There's no living legend quite like Elton John.
With plenty of accolades under his belt and millions of records sold worldwide, the EGOT winner has gone beyond just entertaining his fans across the globe.
Alongside his husband David Furnish, John has spent his life advocating for equality and raising crucial funds to save lives and eradicate HIV through the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Now, the talented musician is continuing to give back by teaming up with iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble (P&G) on the Elton John Impact Awards. Just in time for Pride Month, the initiative honors icons, trailblazers, and allies who have made significant contributions to the LGBTQ+ community. Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Orville Peck, and Chappell Roan are just a few names being recognized this year.
As political hostility continues to gain momentum against queer people around the world, the Elton John Impact Awards are being presented as a podcast series to reach more people at a pivotal time in history.
In an exclusive interview with Out, the iconic husbands open up on the need for visibility, fervent Pride, and what they hope their legacy will be as their impact continues to touch millions of fans.
Elton and David, congratulations on the Elton John Impact Awards. You've done such incredible work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation over the years. Elton, why did you want to launch the Impact Awards?
I have spent my life watching people be punished for being themselves. Artists, activists, ordinary people who just wanted to live openly. The Elton John Impact Awards exist because that courage deserves to be named and celebrated, not just assumed. We want to shine a light on the people who made it easier for everyone who came after them and make clear that the work isn't finished.
David, you're honoring so many incredible LGBTQ+ icons in the industry today including Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck, and Chappell Roan. Why was it important for you to spotlight each of these stars?
Each of them has used their platform at a moment when it would have been easier not to. These are people who live their truth publicly and consistently, not just when it was convenient. That visibility has a real effect on young people who are trying to figure out who they are. We wanted to honor that specifically, not just fame or achievement.
Elton, the timing of the Impact Awards couldn't be more crucial as the political climate continues to become more hostile for the LGBTQ+ community. Why is it important for our community to stand together and raise awareness on queer visibility during this time?
The hostility is real and it is growing. We are seeing rights rolled back, funding cuts, and communities that were already vulnerable being made more so. This is not a moment for silence or looking away. The Elton John Impact Awards are one way of saying clearly - we are here, we are proud, and we are not going away. Art and visibility have always been part of how this community survives, and that hasn't changed.
David, the Elton John AIDS Foundation continues to expand every year as momentum builds for this organization. You've given hope to so many people at a time when it's needed most. What message would you have for anyone in the queer community who could use some words of wisdom during these trying times?
I know how hard this moment feels. The progress we fought for is being challenged in ways that seemed unthinkable a few years ago. But I also know what this community has built, often under far worse conditions than these. The people we are honoring this year are proof that visibility changes things, that living openly and unapologetically is a form of resistance in itself. We are not giving up, and I hope you won't either.
Elton, your career is nothing short of legendary. You've opened so many doors for shining LGBTQ+ stars thanks to your iconic discography, impactful philanthropy, and by being an incredible father to your young children. What would you like your legacy to be? How would you like people to celebrate your unbelievable life?
If my children are happy and know I gave everything I had to support and love them, that is enough for me. I have had the great privilege of being honored for my music, and I try to pass that same sense of opportunity along to rising artists who will become the legends of tomorrow. But in the end, being a father and building a family with David is what will always matter most to me.
David, what goals do you have for the Elton John AIDS Foundation? How would you like the Impact Awards to make a difference?
We are focused on protecting what the LGBTQ+ community built, because most people don't know they built it. Gay men transformed modern medicine during the AIDS crisis. They fought for faster access to life-saving drugs, forced their way into the scientific conversation, and created community-based healthcare models now considered standard practice around the world. That legacy is under threat right now, from funding cuts, criminalisation, and political hostility. But ending AIDS is still possible. The science has never been better. But the systems and communities built to deliver it have to survive first. That is what we are fighting for.
Elton, what message would you like to share with young LGBTQ+ artists who're inspired by your trailblazing career? Also, how can we all spread a little queer joy?
Be yourself. That is the best advice I can give to any young person. Do not be afraid of who you are. Celebrate it, be courageous, and step out into the world as only you can. We need you.
The Elton John Impact Awards can be watched or listened to on the iHeartRadio App or on all major podcast platforms.
