Chappell Roan duets with Elton John at intimate Oscars after-party
Show Caption
Hide Caption
'Anora,' Adrien Brody and the full Oscars recap
USA TODAY's Ralphie Aversa recaps the 97th Academy Awards from Los Angeles, where 'Anora' was the night's big winner.
LOS ANGELES – On Sunday night, Chappell Roan brought it home to West Hollywood.
At 21, the pop sensation had a divine experience at hallowed gay bar The Abbey, which went on to inspire her joyous hit song 'Pink Pony Club.' Six years later, Roan performed the tune with Elton John just a block away at West Hollywood Park, where the music legend hosted his annual Oscars after-party. Donning a sparkly pink cowboy hat with silver fringe, John helped close out the night as he danced and sang the queer anthem onstage with Roan.
'You have sacrificed so much for the queer community, and you made it so I can be the artist I can be,' Roan told him before the performance. 'Thank you so much.'
'You're the best, baby,' John said. 'Thank you for doing this.'
Chappell Roan proclaims 'free the nipple!' at Oscars after-party concert
It was a shockingly intimate show for Roan, 27, whose popularity has exploded within the past year. Although she now plays to festival crowds of roughly 100,000 people, Sunday's headlining set found the Grammy winner performing for just a few hundred partygoers in a white-and-gold tent. ('Can you believe it?' she quipped. 'We're in a dog park behind the Abbey!')
Dressed in a ruffled white shirt with a black vest, the electrifying Roan ran through nearly a dozen of her beloved songs, including 'My Kink is Karma,' 'Naked in Manhattan,' 'Casual' and 'Good Luck, Babe!' She cheekily introduced 'Hot to Go!,' which has its own delightful accompanying dance.
'I'm going to teach you guys a dance,' Roan explained. 'I know some of you are wearing strapless little gowns. So if I tell you to raise your arms and a little nip slip happens … good! Free the nipple! It's Elton John's party, you can do that here!'
At times, she lightly chided the stuffy crowd of tuxedo-clad guests, many of whom watched the show through their smartphones and refused to move to the music.
'There's a very strange row of people in the back all wearing the same thing, all of them looking like this,' Roan said at one point, feigning a dead-eyed expression. 'Honey, welcome. I invite you to let loose, baby. Oscars are over! Let's have fun!'
Chappell Roan delivers a beautiful 'Your Song,' duets with Elton John onstage
The emotional highlights of the night were Roan's gorgeous covers of John's catalog: Midway through the concert, she unearthed a heavenly rendition of his 1970 ballad 'Your Song.'
'I'm going to sing a song that's one of my favorite songs of all time,' Roan said. 'I think it's maybe the best song of all time. I dedicate it to my parents – They're here tonight! Mom and Dad, wave! – I dedicate this song to them, because they introduced me to Elton John. I would not even be here were it not for them! And obviously, Elton, this is yours.'
Afterward, the Midwest Princess admitted that it was 'scary to sing it in front of the person who wrote it.' But that didn't deter Roan later on, when she brought John onstage for a soaring duet of his stirring 1974 anthem 'Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me.' The Piano Man, of course, handled the keys as she looked on fondly.
At the start of the evening, John, 77, told the crowd how he fell in love with Roan and her music.
'She's so kind and amazingly agreed to do this,' John said. 'She's one of the biggest stars in the world right now. She not only speaks with her voice onstage, but offstage, too. So it's my honor, and privilege, to welcome to the stage, the incredible Chappell Roan!'
What you didn't see on TV: Selena Gomez leaves Oscars early; Kieran Culkin jokes with wife
'Anora' cast and crew party late into the night after Oscar best picture win
John's starry Oscar gathering, which raises money for his AIDS foundation, wasn't the only raucous after-party happening in West Hollywood. After its eye-popping tally of five Oscar wins, the place to be late Sunday night was the 'Anora' celebration, which distributor Neon hosted at the swank Soho House West Hollywood.
Guests dined on a spread of pizza, fries and tortellini as they waited on director Sean Baker, who made his entrance roughly three hours after the ceremony ended. Baker and his wife, producer Samantha Quan, were greeted with roaring applause as they ascended the club's lit-up marble staircase, each with two Oscar statuettes in hand.
The bash stretched across multiple floors and rooms, with a stunning, wraparound view of the LA night sky. 'Red Rocket' star Simon Rex was spotted early in the evening grooving to Curtis Mayfield and Thelma Houston, but he later ceded the dance floor to 'Anora' breakout Mark Eydelshteyn, who wildly spun around and head-banged his way through the film's signature tune, Take That's 'Greatest Day.'
He grabbed his buddy Yura Borisov as they elatedly jumped up and down, although they snuck off to another room when the DJ queued up – of all songs ‒ Roan's 'Hot to Go!'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
8 minutes ago
- Yahoo
When Elton John came to Broadlands for a truly unforgettable concert
The year 2000 dawned with the promise of a new millennium, and for the sleepy estate of Broadlands, it also brought the electrifying presence of a true music icon - Sir Elton John. On a mild summer's evening, the historic grounds, more accustomed to stately gatherings, were transformed into an arena as thousands flocked to witness the Rocket Man himself deliver a performance that remains in the memories of many Elton John, a seasoned veteran of countless stadium tours and intimate piano shows, brought his distinctive blend of showmanship, flamboyant costumes, and an unparalleled back catalogue to the idyllic setting. The anticipation in the air was palpable as families, couples, and friends sprawled across the lawns, picnic blankets unfurled, eagerly awaiting the show. And a show it was. From the moment Elton strode onto the stage, resplendent in one of his signature, glittering, outfits, the crowd was captivated. The setlist was, as expected, a masterclass in greatest hits. From the soaring anthems like "Your Song," "Tiny Dancer," and "Candle in the Wind" to the more upbeat, foot-tapping numbers such as "Crocodile Rock," "I'm Still Standing," and "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting," Elton effortlessly navigated his extensive repertoire. Each song was delivered with the passion and precision that have become his hallmarks, his powerful vocals resonating across the estate, carried on the gentle evening breeze. But beyond the hit parade, what truly made the Broadlands concert special was the atmosphere. Read more: The self-made titan who built the foundations of Southampton Saints crushed Brighton 6-1 - can we see a repeat? The two names of locally-adored Southampton department store The rise and fall of Southampton's world-famous carpet factory Rare photos show youth band through the years It wasn't just a concert, it was an event. The sun dipped below the horizon as the evening progressed, casting a warm glow over the joyous crowd. Lighters swayed during the ballads, and impromptu dance parties erupted during the rockers. Elton, ever the showman, engaged with the audience, sharing anecdotes and connecting with them on a personal level, making the vast open-air venue feel surprisingly intimate. As the final notes of the encore faded into the night and a dazzling display of fireworks lit up the Hampshire sky, there was a collective sense of satisfaction and elation. Elton John at Broadlands in 2000 wasn't just another concert date - it was a truly unforgettable summer's evening that brought a touch of global superstardom to the New Forest.
Los Angeles Times
2 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Paula Deen abruptly closes restaurant that launched her to celebrity chef status
In the late 1990s, Paula Deen was an independent restaurateur whose family-operated restaurant had just received a glowing review from USA Today. Her life and career were permanently changed. Now, over 25 years later, the Georgia native has announced the closing of the Lady and Sons — the iconic restaurant that made her a star of Southern cuisine and a household name in the cooking world. Opened in downtown Savannah, Ga., in 1996, the Lady and Sons boasted a menu of local classics like fried green tomatoes, banana pudding and hoecakes. The signature dish, Southern fried chicken, was enough to draw lines wrapping around the block — and the restaurant came to be viewed as an embodiment of the indulgent and buttery flavors that characterize Southern cooking. 'There in Savannah, Paula Deen's homestyle Southern menu at the Lady and Sons turned me into a ravenous beast, unmindful of manners, cholesterol, North-South diplomacy and the dropped jaws of my companions,' USA Today, then the nation's most-read daily newspaper, wrote on Dec. 17, 1999. Earlier that year, the popularity of the Lady and Sons caught the attention of Food Network journalist Gordon Elliott. Deen appeared on Elliott's short-lived show 'Door Knock Dinners' that led to her own Daytime Emmy-winning Food Network program, 'Paula's Home Cooking.' On her website and social media accounts, Deen bid farewell to the Lady and Sons and its longtime fans. Also closing is her newer restaurant, the Chicken Box, which opened in 2023. 'Hey, y'all, my sons and I made the heartfelt decision that Thursday, July 31st, was the last day of service for The Lady & Sons and The Chicken Box,' Deen said in the statement. 'We will now focus our attention on the four Paula Deen's Family Kitchen locations across the country.' The announcement came without warning, especially as the restaurant continued to draw tours and lines of customers. Three weeks prior to the announcement, the Lady and Sons posted on Instagram that it was hiring for all positions. Over the years, some of Deen's other restaurants have also closed suddenly. In 2014, employees at Uncle Bubba's Seafood and Oyster House — a Savannah eatery she co-owned with her brother, Earl W. 'Bubba' Hiers Jr. — reportedly arrived to work to find the doors locked and the appliances removed. A sign on the door said, 'Thank you for 10 great years. Uncle Bubba's is now closed.' The Panama City, Fla., location of Paula Deen's Family Kitchen also closed abruptly in 2019, laying off 30 employees without advance notice. Several former employees told local news channel WJHG that they were left without their main source of income following the closure. Uncle Bubba's closure came a year after controversy began to surround Deen after a former manager at the restaurant sued Hiers, alleging sexual and racial discrimination. Food Network canceled 'Paula's Home Cooking' after Deen admitted to using a racial slur during a deposition for the 2013 lawsuit. Lawyers asked Deen if she had ever used the N-word, to which Deen replied, 'Yes, of course,' later adding, 'It's been a very long time.' Since then, the 78-year-old has focused on her restaurants. The Lady and Sons, as her core establishment, was the result of a litany of personal struggles and ambition. Both of her parents passed away when she was in her early 20s and Deen, then a young mother, struggled with depression and agoraphobia, or fear of going outside. With only $200 left, Deen founded a catering company out of her kitchen called the Bag Lady. Her handmade bag lunches were delivered by her sons Jamie and Bobby and earned Deen a local reputation for her homestyle cooking. After one attempt at a restaurant, the Lady in 1991, the follow-up, the Lady and Sons, co-owned with Jamie and Bobby, would be her success.
Indianapolis Star
5 hours ago
- Indianapolis Star
'Too far': Luke Bryan reacts to being hit by object at North Dakota State Fair
Luke Bryan says the person who threw an object at him during a concert in North Dakota went "too far" and if he'd seen who had done it, he would have taken action. "I mean, if I saw him throw it, I could have gone right to him," Bryan told Taste of Country, a major publication that mainly covers country music. "I probably would have jumped right off in there." The country music star, 49, was singing "Country Girl" during the state fair in Minot on July 26 when he was hit in the face by a small, round object. Footage recorded by a fan shows Bryan stagger as he is momentarily shocked after being hit by the item, assumed to be a small ball. However, he maintained composure, only taking a brief moment to gather himself before finishing the song. "It's the last song of the night. It was a big ole fun party, and I think one person just took it too far," Bryan said. "At that point, if I'd even stopped it and pointed somebody out, it kills the vibe of the show. Bryan did not address the incident on stage or on social media. USA TODAY has reached out to Bryan's representatives for more information on the incident, but has not heard back. It is also not known if the singer sustained injuries. The singer noted such incidents are becoming common and "every other entertainer out there is getting stuff" thrown at them. Cardi B, Lady Gaga, Drake, Lil Nas X, Zach Bryan, and Pink are among the long list of artists who've had objects thrown at them during performances. "You hope that you can see who did it," Bryan remarked, adding that when audiences throw things at performers, they are being selfish and are ruining the show for everyone else. More entertainment news: Is 'The Gilded Age' Season 3 ending this week? See episode schedule The Ward County Sheriff's Department, meanwhile, in a media release on July 29, said while it was "aware" of the videos and social media posts "concerning an item thrown at Luke Bryan near the end of his concert," there is "currently no active criminal investigation for this incident." "We currently do not have a complaint filed by Luke Bryan or any authorized representative and there is currently no information on a possible subject that may have thrown the item," the news release said, adding the item thrown at Bryan appears to be a ball, "possibly being a foam type stress ball." The North Dakota State Fair management, meanwhile, did not immediately respond to USA TODAY's request for more information on the incident. The state fair, held annually in Minot, is "a cherished tradition" and was celebrating its 60th year. The fair, held July 18-26, included a range of activities, exhibits, and entertainment, with this year's edition welcoming more than 350,000 attendees, the most ever in the fair's history, according to the Minot Daily News.
