Miley Cyrus and John Legend honored Sir Elton John with the ‘Artist Of The Year’ award at the annual Global Citizen Prize on Saturday (Dec. 19).
Cyrus presented Sir Elton John with Global Citizen’s ‘Artist Of The Year’ prize for using his “creative platform to improve the world.”
“I didn’t really do enough as a gay man, I should have been there with ACT UP, I should have marched, I should have been much more political than I was.” John said upon accepting the award. “So many of my friends died, so many of my friends still have HIV/AIDS, and when I got sober in 1990 I realized I wanted to make a difference, not just for gay people but for everybody… Our motto is nobody gets left behind…I’m extremely grateful for this accolade. I’m so grateful people know about the Elton John AIDS Foundation and consider it a wonderful organization, but it reminds me of all the work left to do.”
Watch John’s acceptance speech and Cyrus’ speech below.
According to a PRNewswire press release, The Artist of the Year Prize honors a creative individual or group using their platform and their work to create change not only through conversation but meaningful impact. A singer, songwriter, philanthropist, and composer, John also tirelessly works to end the AIDS epidemic through the Elton John AIDS Foundation and most recently was a leader in raising vital funds for the global COVID-19 response.
Elton John AIDs Foundation has raised over $450 million for HIV/AIDS programs across four continents.
The annual event also featured performances by Alessia Cara, Carrie Underwood, Common, Gwen Stefani, John Legend, JoJo, and Tori Kelly. Also including appearances from John Oliver, Nick Jonas, Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, Priyanka Chopra Jonas and more.
Global Citizen honors those making extraordinary efforts to lift up the world’s most vulnerable, inspire others to stand up and take action, help end extreme poverty and make the world a better place. The special will re-air on MSNBC on Dec. 31 at 12 a.m. ET/PT.
For more information about the Global Citizen Prize, please visit www.globalcitizen.org/prize and follow @GlblCtzn on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram using #GlobalCitizen.
