Sir Elton John to perform at the White House on Friday

The concert will be a celebration of music and the popstar's contributions to American culture

Sir Elton John performs during his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour at the Smoothie King Centre in New Orleans, Louisiana, on January 19, 2022. AFP

Sir Elton and television personality Sir David Frost are presented to Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor in 1977. PA

Queen Elizabeth meets Sir Elton backstage at the Diamond Jubilee Concert 2022 outside Buckingham Palace, London. PA

The singer-songwriter wearing a pair of his flamboyant trademark spectacles in 1974. Getty Images

Princess Margaret with Sir Elton at an event in 1974. Getty Images

Singer Britney Spears and Sir Elton attend the 21st Elton John Aids Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party at Pacific Design Centre in West Hollywood, California. Getty Images / AFP

Sir Elton, in a fur coat and metallic boots with flared trousers, poses in the bar of the London Palladium during rehearsals for the Royal Variety Performance in October 1972. Getty Images

Sir Elton performs at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California, in 1975. Terry / Iconic Images

Sir Elton performs at the Hammersmith Odeon in London in 1982. Getty Images

Sir Elton with Renate Blauel on their wedding day at St Mark's Church in Sydney, Australia, on February 14, 1984. Getty Images

Sir Elton attends the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, London, on May 19, 1984. Getty Images

Sir Elton with David Beckham and Italian singer Zucchero Fornaciari during Versace's autumn/winter 1998-99 show in Milan, Italy. EPA

Sir Elton leaves a New York City concert on July 27, 1999. Getty Images

Sir Elton performs with rapper Eminem at the 2001 Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on February 21, 2001. Getty Images

Sir Elton at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, Nevada, in 2005. Getty Images

Sir Elton and Elizabeth Hurley attend a Chopard party during the 59th International Cannes Film Festival in 2006. Getty Images

Jon Bon Jovi and Sir Elton attend the Mojo Honours List awards at Shoreditch Town Hall in London. Getty Images

The crocodile detail on the back of Sir Elton's suit during a performance in Sydney, Australia. Getty Images

Sir Elton performs at Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, on January 22, 2008. Joseph J Capellan / ADMC

Sir Elton after being made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to Music and to Charity during an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on November 10, 2021. Getty Images

Sir Elton wanders through Portofino, Italy, on August 12, 2008. Getty Images

Sir Elton and David Furnish attend the wedding of Prince William and Catherine at Westminster Abbey, London, on April 29, 2011. Getty Images

Sir Elton performs during Queen Elizabeth's diamond jubilee concert at Buckingham Palace, London, on June 4, 2012. Getty Images

Ed Sheeran and Sir Elton pose backstage during the 55th Annual Grammy Awards at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, California, on February 9, 2013. WireImage

Sir Elton performs at 2015 Rock in Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on September 20, 2015. Getty Images

David Furnish and Sir Elton leave St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle after the wedding of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry on May 19, 2018. Getty Images

Sir Elton and Taron Egerton attend a Rocketman photocall during the 72nd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 16, 2019. Getty Images

The 'Rocketman' detail on the back of Sir Elton's suit at the film's Cannes Film Festival premiere in May 2019. Getty Images

Sir Elton attends the European premiere of The Lion King at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square on July 14, 2019. Getty Images

Sir Elton performs at the A Day On The Green music festival in Geelong, Australia, on December 7, 2019. EPA

Sir Elton performs at Mission Estate, New Zealand, on February 6, 2020. Getty Images

Sir Elton pays tribute to Billie Jean King during the Laureus World Sports Awards 2021 Virtual Award Ceremony on May 6, 2021. Getty Images

Sir Elton John will perform for President Joe Biden and guests at the White House on Friday night to celebrate the British superstar’s epic global farewell tour and contributions to American culture.

The concert is being called “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme”, a nod to a poem by Irishman Seamus Heaney, a go-to reference in Mr Biden’s past speeches.

The president and the first lady are scheduled to speak at the event, the White House said.

Brit pop star Sir Elton John and television personality Sir David Frost being presented to Queen Elizabeth II at Windsor for the 1977 Silver Jubilee. PA

The performance will be held on a stage being erected on the South Lawn and promises to be an evening that celebrates the “unifying and healing power of music”, the White House said in an announcement.

It will also “commend the life and work of Sir Elton John, and honour the everyday history-makers in the audience”, the White House said.

The gathering signals a return to normality following the lifting of Covid-19 restrictions. The event is taking place outside and all guests will require a negative test.

The singer, who made his American debut at the Troubadour in Los Angeles in 1970, was ranked the top solo artist in US chart history in a 2019 Billboard list, and third overall behind The Beatles and The Rolling Stones.

He was knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth in 1998 for his service to music and charitable contributions to the UK.

His Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour began in 2018 and will have included more than 300 worldwide shows before wrapping up in Sweden next year.

There have been many concerts and performers at the White House throughout history, mostly military-affiliated bands.

Jimmy Carter earned the nickname “rock and roll president” after Bob Dylan, the Allman brothers and Willie Nelson hit the campaign trail with the underdog candidate.

Mr Carter would go to host numerous musical events at the White House which are documented in the 2020 film Jimmy Carter: Rock & Roll President.

Sir Elton John, David Furnish and Bernie Taupin arrive at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Michelle Trachtenberg arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Jason Lewis arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Colton Haynes arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Troye Sivan arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

G-Eazy arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Billy Porter arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Anne Heche arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Zhavia Ward arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Heidi Klum arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Diane Lane arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Sharon Stone arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Josephine Skriver arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Dita Von Teese arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Halima Aden arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Christina Ricci arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Ashley Green arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Bella Thorne arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Donatella Versace arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Hilary Roberts arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Christina Hendricks arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Vivica A Fox arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Jane Seymour arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Caitlyn Jenner arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Ryan Kwanten arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Karamo Brown arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Paz Vega arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

RJ Mitte arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Eric McCormack arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Judith Light arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Leona Lewis arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Bobby Berk arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Tan France arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Nia Vardalos arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Jonathan Van Ness arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Emilie de Ravin arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AP

Emily Hampshire arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP

Antoni Porowski arrives at the 2020 Elton John Aids Foundation Oscar Viewing Party on Sunday, February 9, 2020, in California. AFP