Chappell Roan and Elton John Light Up West Hollywood at Oscars After-Party
Los Angeles pulsed with post-Oscar energy Sunday night, but one of the most talked-about celebrations was undoubtedly Elton John’s annual Oscars after-party in West Hollywood Park. The legendary musician hosted the event, benefiting his AIDS Foundation, and brought the house down with a special guest: the electrifying Chappell Roan. For Roan, the performance felt like a full-circle moment, returning to the neighborhood and even the vicinity of The Abbey, a gay bar that inspired one of her biggest hits, "Pink Pony Club."
Six years prior, Roan, at the tender age of 21, found inspiration within the walls of The Abbey. On this night, a mere block away, the now 27-year-old pop sensation shared the stage with Elton John, a figure who has profoundly impacted both her personal and professional life. Donning a dazzling pink cowboy hat adorned with silver fringe, John joined Roan to close out the night with a spirited rendition of "Pink Pony Club," transforming the park into a euphoric dance floor.
Before launching into the queer anthem, Roan expressed her gratitude to John, acknowledging his unwavering support for the LGBTQ+ community. "You have sacrificed so much for the queer community, and you made it so I can be the artist I can be," she told him, her voice filled with genuine emotion. John responded with warmth, calling her "the best, baby" and thanking her for sharing the stage with him.
Despite Roan’s meteoric rise to fame, which has seen her performing for festival crowds exceeding 100,000 people, the intimate setting of the after-party created a unique and special atmosphere. Inside a white-and-gold tent erected in what she playfully noted was "a dog park behind the Abbey," the Grammy winner delivered a captivating performance for a few hundred lucky partygoers.
Roan, dressed in a ruffled white shirt and a black vest, unleashed her signature high-energy performance, running through a setlist packed with fan favorites. The crowd roared with approval as she belted out hits like "My Kink is Karma," "Naked in Manhattan," "Casual," and "Good Luck, Babe!" Her playful personality shone through as she introduced "Hot to Go!," a song known for its accompanying dance. Roan took it upon herself to teach the audience the moves, even playfully encouraging a bit of liberation from the formal attire. "I’m going to teach you guys a dance," she announced. "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!"
While the energy was generally high, Roan couldn’t resist gently teasing the more reserved members of the tuxedo-clad crowd, many of whom seemed more interested in documenting the event on their smartphones than actually engaging with 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 quipped, mimicking a blank, uninterested expression. “Honey, welcome. I invite you to let loose, baby. Oscars are over! Let’s have fun!”
However, the emotional core of the evening emerged during Roan’s stunning tributes to John’s legendary catalog. Midway through her set, she delivered a breathtaking rendition of his timeless 1970 ballad, "Your Song." Before beginning, Roan shared the song’s significance in her life. “I’m going to sing a song that’s one of my favorite songs of all time,” she 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.”
After the performance, Roan admitted to feeling "scary" singing such a beloved song in front of its creator. But her nerves didn’t hold her back later in the evening when she invited John to join her onstage for a powerful duet of his stirring 1974 anthem, "Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me." John, seated at the piano, provided the iconic accompaniment as Roan looked on with admiration.
Earlier in the evening, John, 77, had expressed his admiration for Roan and her music. “She’s so kind and amazingly agreed to do this,” he told the crowd. “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!”
While John and Roan were captivating the audience at the West Hollywood Park, other celebrations were taking place across the city. Following its impressive haul of five Oscar wins, the "Anora" after-party, hosted by distributor Neon at the Soho House West Hollywood, became the place to be. Guests enjoyed a buffet of pizza, fries, and tortellini while eagerly awaiting the arrival of director Sean Baker.
Baker and his wife, producer Samantha Quan, made their grand entrance approximately three hours after the awards ceremony concluded, greeted by thunderous applause as they ascended the club’s illuminated marble staircase, each proudly carrying two Oscar statuettes.
The "Anora" party spanned multiple floors and rooms, offering stunning panoramic views of the Los Angeles skyline. Simon Rex, star of Baker’s earlier film "Red Rocket," was spotted dancing to Curtis Mayfield and Thelma Houston early in the evening. However, he eventually ceded the dance floor to "Anora" breakout star Mark Eydelshteyn, who energetically danced and head-banged to the film’s signature song, Take That’s "Greatest Day." Eydelshteyn grabbed his friend Yura Borisov, and the pair jumped up and down with elation. Amusingly, the two even retreated to another room when the DJ played Roan’s "Hot to Go!"
