Music icon Elton John already had an award named after him. Now it has become a bigger awards program: The Elton John Impact Awards, which are being presented to influential members of the LGBTQ+ community and prominent allies.
The Elton John Impact Awards, created by iHeartMedia and consumer packaged goods giant P&G, will launch June 1 as a podcast series on the iHeartRadio app and on all major podcast platforms. It also will air as an audio special on iHeartRadio PRIDE stations. (Listen to the trailer below.)
The Elton John Impact Award was first introduced in 2022 at “Can’t Cancel Pride,” a virtual benefit concert launched by iHeartMedia and P&G, where John was its inaugural recipient in recognition of his decades-long advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights and the fight to end AIDS. Since then, the award’s individual honorees have included singer Brandi Carlile and actor Billy Porter — and has now evolved into the Elton John Impact Awards. Over the course of five years, Can’t Cancel Pride raised over $17 million for LGBTQ+ nonprofits.
The first group of honorees in the expanded awards are Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck and Chappell Roan. Each will be presented with a gold-plated trophy inspired by John’s famous bling-y eyewear.
The Elton John Impact Awards recognize “those whose lifelong work has inspired change and shaped culture, while also giving back to LGBTQ+ organizations that uplift the communities they serve,” according to iHeartMedia and P&G.
Rendering of the Elton John Impact Awards trophy
The awards special will be hosted by Billy Porter and iHeartRadio host Elvis Duran. That will feature “candid, personal conversations” with John himself, Elton John AIDS Foundation chair David Furnish and this year’s honorees, who will share “stories, challenges and defining moments” from their personal journeys. In addition, on the inaugural awards show, recording artist and actress Dove Cameron will deliver a special performance of Elton John’s “Your Song.”
“I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling to connect us and challenge us,” Elton John said in a statement. “These conversations bring together the people who have shaped LGBTQ+ culture and fought for dignity at a time when the world too often looked away. Some are friends who stood beside me through the AIDS crisis, others are carrying the torch forward with the new generation. Hearing their stories and reflecting on how far we’ve come, and how far we still have to go, is deeply humbling. This is history that cannot be forgotten and these are voices that must be heard.”
One of the goals of the program is to drive awareness and funding for a range of frontline organizations working to support the LGBTQ+ community, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation. In partnership with Brandi Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation, additional funds will be granted to CenterLink, GLAAD, the National Black Justice Collective, Outright International, SAGE and the Trevor Project. Each organization addresses various critical needs across the LGBTQ+ community, such as supporting and advocating for LGBTQ+ elder care, increasing access to preventative health services and treatment, and providing mental health support for young people.
Here’s more on the first Elton John Impact Awards honorees:
- Jonathan Bailey: Film, TV and stage actor who launched “The Shameless Fund” to support LGBTQ+ charities.
- Laverne Cox: Emmy-nominated actress (“Orange Is the New Black”) and Emmy-winning producer who has elevated transgender visibility in mainstream media and remains a powerful voice for equality and inclusion.
- Melissa Etheridge: Grammy- and Oscar-winning musician who has used her platform to champion LGBTQ+ rights for decades through personal storytelling within her music and cultural advocacy.
- Billie Jean King: Tennis icon and award-winning humanitarian who has spent her life advocating for gender and LGBTQ+ equality in and out of sports.
- Orville Peck: Trailblazing country performer who uses his artistic persona to blend traditional country aesthetics with queer themes and uses his platforms to create visibility and advocate for the LGBTQ+ community.
- Chappell Roan: Pop singer who advocates for LGBTQ+ rights with her unapologetic artistry and founding of The Midwest Princess Project to support trans youth.
“We’re honored to partner with Elton John and P&G to tell these stories of the incredible icons to celebrate their enduring impact on the LGBTQ+ community,” said Gayle Troberman, an adviser to iHeartMedia. “Because of this, we are also able to showcase what’s possible when we use our voice to support the organizations on the ground delivering critical support to those in need.”
Furnish, who is also CEO of John’s Rocket Entertainment Group, added: “The Elton John Impact Awards spotlight the vital work of organizations protecting LGBTQ+ communities and advancing health equity around the world. At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and health equity remain under threat globally, investing in organizations on the frontlines has never been more urgent.”
“We are proud to celebrate these cultural icons and community organizations that both inspire and support people in communities around the world,” said Brent Miller, senior director of global LGBTQ+ engagement at P&G. “Through their efforts, they have helped us to better understand and uplift each other while working to create a world where equality and inclusion are achievable for all. They each use their special gifts — whether in the arts, athletics or community impact — to help inspire others with hope, action and impact.”
More information is available at eltonjohnimpactawards.com.
A panel of leaders worked with Elton John to select this year’s honorees. Advisory council members include Furnish, Porter, Carlile, Elton John AIDS Foundation CEO Anne Aslett, and P&G’s Brent Miller and iHeartMedia’s John Sykes, founding producers of Can’t Cancel Pride’s and the Elton John Impact Awards.
Charitable foundation partners of this year’s event include the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Looking Out Foundation. Since it was founded in 1992, the Elton John AIDS Foundation has provided support and care for the LGBTQ+ community and tackled the stigma standing in the way of ending AIDS. Since 2020, the Foundation has awarded more than 55 grants and invested over $23 million in programs across 47 countries. Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation has supported humanitarian causes for over two decades, “amplifying the impact of music by awarding grants, engaging community and creating powerful partnerships.”
Listen to the trailer for “The Elton John Impact Awards”:
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