A year after releasing her debut album, The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess, Chappell Roan caught fire in 2024 with her breakout single “Casual.” The pop superstar is nominated six times at next month’s Grammy Awards, vying for Best New Artist, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year for “Good Luck, Babe!” And recently, the legendary Elton John announced Roan as the main attraction at his annual Aids Foundation Oscars Watch Party.
Elton John Welcomes “Bold and Authentic” Chappell Roan to the Stage
The entertainment’s industry biggest night is set for Sunday, March 2. That’s when the 97th Academy Awards returns to Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre, with Conan O’Brien hosting. Since 1993, music icon Elton John has hosted a star-studded Oscars watch party benefiting the AIDS Foundation.
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Last year’s event set a new record, raising $10.8 million for AIDS research. This year’s gala is aiming even higher, with Chappell Roan taking the stage as the main performer.
“David and I are thrilled to gather with friends and supporters once again,” said the “I’m Still Standing” hitmaker in a statement. “And we’re honored to welcome the bold and authentic Chappell Roan as this year’s performer, whose artistry embodies the power of music to inspire change.”
An Instant Friendship
The three-time Oscar winner, 77, regularly FaceTimes with Chappell Roan, 26. Sir Elton has even helped the “Pink Pony Club” star navigate the rocky process of her newfound fame. He has urged Roan to follow her own instincts, at her own pace.
“I just try and calm her down and say, “Listen, it’s fine. It’s fine. Do what you want. Don’t listen to anybody. Walk at your own speed,’” John recently told The Ankler. “Do not listen to the record company saying, ‘We want another album, we want another album.’ Do it when you’re ready to do it.”
[RELATED: 3 of Chappell Roan’s Early Songs That Prove She’s Always Been a Talented Queen]
In a statement to Them, Chappell Roan said she was “absolutely glowing” to perform at the high-profile event. She called John and his husband, David Furnish, “incredible guiding lights” during her meteoric rise to fame.
“I’m deeply passionate about supporting the queer community in every way I can, and I’m so proud to be part of an organization that fights for equality and provides lifesaving access to care for queer communities,” Roan said. “I can’t wait to bring an unabashedly ☆gay☆ performance to such an iconic night!”
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