Sir Elton John brought the curtain down on this year's Glastonbury festival on Sunday night with a showstopping set packed with 'bangers galore'.
The 76-year-old, dressed in a dazzling gold suit and red-tinted sunglasses, wowed festival-goers - and viewers watching along at home on BBC - with a emotional farewell show on the Pyramid Stage, following on from performances from Lil Nas X, Blondie, Yusuf / Cat Stevens and Sophie Ellis-Bexter.
The career-spanning set included hits such as Benny And The Jets, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, and Your Song. He was the last of three headliners to play the Pyramid Stage at Worthy Farm, over the weekend following on from Guns N’ Roses and Arctic Monkeys who performed on Saturday and Friday (25 and 24 June) respectively.
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Across his two-hour performance, which he suggested "may" be his last, Elton John welcomed four special guests including The Killers frontman Brandon Flowers. The Mr Brightside singer was welcomed with rapturous applause to the stage before performing Elton John's hit 'Tiny Dancer'.
Rumours had been swirling for days about who Elton John might bring out with huge names including Britney Spears and Sir Paul McCartney floated, but on the night he chose to champion new and emerging talent, welcoming Jacob Lusk of Gabriels, Stephen Sanchez, and Rina Sawayama.
After performing his hit 'The Bitch Is Back', Sir Elton told the crowd: “I never thought I would ever play Glastonbury and here I am.
“It’s a very special and emotional night for me because it might be my last show ever in England, so I had better play well and I had better entertain you, you’ve been standing there so long and I really appreciate all the outfits and everything.”
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His first guest, Jacob Lusk of Gabriels, performed a rendition of 'Are You Ready for Love' alongside the London Community Gospel Choir, making for a memorable and rousing moment. He was followed a few songs later by US musician Stephen Sanchez, who performed a rendition of his song “Until I Found You”.
Following indie frontman Brandon Flowers duet on 'Tiny Dancer', Elton John's forth and final guest, Rina Sawayama, joined the hitmaker on stage for a pop-fuelled rendition 'Don't Go Breaking My Heart'. However, despite fans being wowed by his special guests, many were left with one big question - "Where is Dua Lipa?"
Elton John performed the pop singer's duet 'Cold Heart' on stage, with many expecting a surprise appearance from Dua herself. But, as the first few chords started to play, he said: "Sadly Dua Lipa isn't here tonight."
Fans quickly took to Twitter to share their disbelief and disappointment. "I'm dying to know what Dua Lipa chose to do rather than perform with Elton John on his final UK performance," asked one Twitter user.
Another wrote: "Sorry Dua Lipa bit where on earth is more important to be right now than headlining performance of Glastonbury with Elton John? To quote Shrek, "well someone better be dying".
While not answering fans directly, Dua Lipa did share snaps from a family meal on Instagram on the same day, clearing up where she was. Following the pictures, another Twitter added: "Listen Dua Lipa I love you but there is 0 family event or commitment more important than getting a boogie on with Elton at Glastonbury."
Elsewhere during the performance, John paid a touching tribute to his late friend, the musician George Michael who would have turned 60 on Sunday. The singer dedicated his performance of 1974’s “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me” to Michael.
