Background on tonight’s performance by Sir Elton John:
The President and First Lady are hosting a musical performance by music legend and global humanitarian, Sir Elton John, on the South Lawn of the White House this evening, September 23, 2022. In collaboration with A+E Networks and The History Channel, the event, titled “A Night When Hope and History Rhyme,” will celebrate the unifying and healing power of music, commend the life and work of Sir Elton John, and honor the everyday history-makers in the audience, including teachers, nurses, frontline workers, military families, mental health advocates, students, LGBTQ+ advocates and more.
Tonight's performance has been organized in collaboration with, and is being paid for by, A+E Networks and The History Channel.
Speaking Program
- Paul Buccieri, President & Chairman of A+E Networks Group
- Athen White, Director of Youth Development & Community Engagement, Supporting and Mentoring Youth Advocates and Leaders (SMYAL)
- The First Lady
- The President
Musical Performance
- Sir Elton John
Approximately 2,000 people will be in attendance, including the following notable attendees (in alpha order):
- Ruby Bridges, a civil rights advocate, who at six years old became one of the first Black children to integrate New Orleans’ all-white public school system
- Paul Buccieri, President and Chairman of A+E Networks
- Former First Lady Laura Bush
- Leah Michael Dillard, from Denver, Colorado, has been a 7th grade English teacher for 20 years.
- Members of the DC National Guard and their families
- Students from the Duke Ellington School of the Arts
- David Furnish, Chairman of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, and husband of Sir Elton John
- Javier Gomez, from Miami, Florida, is a student and LGBTQ+ advocate. When his governor passed a law targeting the LGBTQ+ community, he led a school walk out to help students show their voices matter.
- Billie Jean King, tennis champion and equality advocate
- Vickie Lancianese, from Mt. Hope, West Virginia, is an essential worker whose husband worked in coal mines for 40 years.
- Dr. Amber Pearson, from Weaverville, North Carolina, was the first person in her family to go to college. She works as an audiologist for veterans and their families.
- British Ambassador to the United States,Dame Karen Elizabeth Pierce, Lady Roxburgh
- Athen White, director of SMYAL, a non-profit organization that empowers LGBTQ+ youth. (Introducer of the President and First Lady)
- Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, who lost his life to AIDS-related complications on April 8, 1990, one month before his high school graduation.
- Claire Williams, from Robbinsville, New Jersey, a teacher for 25 years.
- Malala Yousafzai, education activist and the winner of the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize
- Additionally, in the audience, from across the country are nurses, teachers, transit workers, LGBTQ+ advocates, grocery store workers, mental health hotline operators, military families, youth mental health advocates, high school and college students.
Cabinet members scheduled to be in attendance (in alpha order):
- Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin
- Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra
- Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg
- Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona
- Attorney General Merrick Garland
- Secretary of Homeland Security Ali Mayorkas
- Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo
- Chair of the Council of Economic Advisers Ceci Rouse
- Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack
- Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh
- Director of the Office of Management and Budget Shalanda Young
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (CA-12)
Senator Patrick Leahy (VT)
Senator Bob Casey (PA)
Senator Chris Murphy (CT)
Senator Shelley Moore Capito (WV)
Senator Amy Klobuchar (MN)
Senator Chris Coons (DE)
Senator Ed Markey (MA)
Senator Debbie Stabenow (MI)
Sen Brian Schatz (HI)
Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney (NY-12)
Rep. Scott Peters (CA-52)
Rep. Mark Takano (CA-41)
Rep. Ed Perlmutter (CO-07)
Rep. Debbie Dingell (MI-12)
Rep. Pete Aguilar (CA-31)
Rep. Michael McCaul (TX-10)
Rep. Anthony Brown (MD-04)
Rep. Kweisi Mfume (MD-07)
Rep. David Trone (MD-06)
Previous musical performances at the White House to date:
- St Augustine Choir, February 2021
- Jennifer Nettles, July 4, 2021 performance
- Patti LaBelle, Christmas Tree Lighting, 2021
- Billy Porter, Christmas Tree Lighting, 2021
- H.E.R., Christmas Tree Lighting, 2021
- Keb’ Mo,’ Christmas Tree Lighting, 2021
- Howard Gospel Choir, Christmas Tree Lighting, 2021
- Andrea Bocelli, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Matteo Bocelli, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Virginia Bocelli, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Norah Jones, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Camila Cabello, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Billy Porter, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Eric Church, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Jonas Brothers, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Pentatonix, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Northwell Health Nurse Choir, PBS In Performance at The White House
- Andy Grammer, July 4th 2022 performance
- Cairde, dancers who performed for St. Patrick’s Day Reception 2022
- Flor de Toloache, taped performance for Hispanic Heritage Month 2021
- Patricia Treacy, Irish Violinist who performed for St. Patrick’s Day Reception 2022
- James and Kim Taylor, performed at IRA celebration in 2022