Elton John won the Oscar for Best Original Song at the 92nd Academy Awards on Sunday night – his first in 24 years, his second ever, and his first with longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin.
“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again,” which plays over the closing credits of the Elton John biopic Rocketman, beat out “I’m Standing with You” (Breakthrough) by Diane Warren; “Into the Unknown” (Frozen II) by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez; “Stand Up” (Harriet) by Joshuah Brian Campbell and Cynthia Erivo; and “I Can’t Let You Throw Yourself Away” (Toy Story 4) by Randy Newman.
John is the third openly gay man in five years to win the category (after Benj Pasek in 2017 and Sam Smith in 2016).
"This is a dream for us," said the singer, who performed the song earlier in the broadcast. Taupin, a first-time Oscar winner, added: "This is justification of 53 years of just hammering it out and doing what we do."
Immediately after accepting the award, John and his Canadian husband David Furnish where whisked – with the help of a police escort – 6.5 kilometres from the Dolby Theatre to their annual Oscar night gala in support of the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
The 72-year-old earned his first Oscar for Best Original Song in 1996 for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from The Lion King, which was co-written with Tim Rice.
Last month, John and Taupin won Best Original Song at the Golden Globes for “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.”
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This year's Academy Awards show opened with a medley by Janelle Monáe (with Billy Porter) and included an "In Memoriam" performance of The Beatles classic "Yesterday" by Billie Eilish and her brother Finneas.
Eminem earned a standing ovation after he closed out a montage of memorable music from movies with a performance of "Lose Youself," the 8 Mile track that won an Oscar in 2003.
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