Friday 23 September 2022 03:08 PM Elton John asked the Biden White House if he could play there trends now
Elton John reached out to President Joe Biden's administration to ask if he could play at the White House despite Donald Trump's long admiration for the singer and his attempt to get him to play his inauguration.
'His team expressed an interest on his behalf,' a White House official said of John, who will perform on the South Lawn on Friday night.
While the current first couple are fans, Biden's predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump, long considered John a personal friend and was reported to be 'obsessed' with him.
John declined to play at Trump's inauguration but did tell him if he ever hosted offiicials from the UK for a state dinner he would perform - similar to what he did in February 1998 when John performed at a State Dinner during Bill Clinton's presidency for then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Trump never hosted the Brits for such an occasion.
Now John will perform for a commander in chief when he headlines 'A Night When Hope and History Rhyme' that will celebrate the healing power of music and commend the life and work of the singer.
Elton John reached out to President Joe Biden's administration to ask if he could play at the White House
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden will be on hand Friday night when Sir Elton John plays on the South Lawn to a packed crowd
A massive white tent was constructed on the South Lawn of the White House to turn it into a concert venue for the pop star's show. Thousands can fit on the lawn, which is part of the 18 acres that make up the White House complex.
The audience will include teachers, nurses, frontline workers, mental health advocates, students, and LGBTQ+ advocates, the White House said. Guests of A+E Networks, Sir Elton John, and White House staff will also be there.
A+E Networks and The History Channel are paying for the event. The concert will air at a future date on A+E.
John is on his farewell tour. On Saturday night he will play at Nationals Stadium in Washington, D.C.
Biden and John have met before when both men appeared on Stephen Colbert's late night talk show in November 2017.
The concert comes as the White House increases its events schedule - and the number of guests it will host - as the country moves on from the COVID pandemic.
Musician James Taylor played at the White House last week for a celebration of the Democrats' Inflation Reduction Act. Thousands of guests crowded the
