'A SPECIAL AND EMOTIONAL NIGHT'

IN WHAT MAY BE HIS LAST EVER UK SHOW, SIR ELTON JOHN TREATED FANS TO A RECORD-BREAKING SET AT GLASTONBURY FESTIVAL

- LISA BLAKE

 

The magic of Glastonbury Festival continues as this year’s headline act – Sir Elton John – broke records as the most-watched performance in the famous festival’s 51-year history.

The live BBC broadcast was viewed by 7.3 million people and an estimated 120,000 fans watched in person as Elton gave a show-stopping performance on the Pyramid Stage in what he’s claimed is the final UK date of his last ever tour. He described the farewell gig on the last night of the music festival as his “perfect ending”.

The 76-year-old – who was wearing his trademark large glasses and a shiny gold suit – teared through hits on his custom-made Yamaha piano including I’m Still Standing, Are You Ready For Love and Don’t Go Breaking My Heart, with one of his guest performers Rina Sawayama.

He dedicated Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me – which he recorded as a duet in 1991 with the late George Michael – to the former Wham! star, on what would have been his 60th birthday.

Elton said, “George Michael, my friend, my inspiration… All of the music he left us with, which is so gorgeous. This is for you, George.”

The singer’s husband David Furnish, 60, and their sons, Zachary, 12, and Elijah, 10, watched on, along with Beatles legend and last year’s Glastonbury headliner Paul McCartney, as Elton thanked fans for “52 years of amazing love and loyalty”.