Elton John Achieves Rare EGOT Status with Emmy Win for Concert Special 

Elton John performs on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2022. (AP)
Elton John performs on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2022. (AP)
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Elton John Achieves Rare EGOT Status with Emmy Win for Concert Special 

Elton John performs on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2022. (AP)
Elton John performs on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on Sept. 23, 2022. (AP)

Elton John has achieved EGOT status.

The famed British singer-pianist secured an Emmy Award on Monday night for best variety special (live) for “Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium,” a three-hour concert documentary that streamed on Disney +.

John said he was “incredibly humbled” for joining the elite group of EGOT winners who have won Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony awards.

“The journey to this moment has been filled with passion, dedication, and the unwavering support of my fans all around the world,” John, 76, said in a statement after winning his trophy.

The superstar performer has five Grammys, most recently for “Elton John & Tim Rice’s Aida” in 2001; two Oscars for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from “The Lion King” in 1994 and “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from “Rocketman”; along with a Tony for his original score on “Aida.”

He is one of the top-selling solo artists of all time, and he holds the record for biggest-selling physical single of all time thanks to the 33 million copies sold for “Candle in the Wind” in 1997.

John became the 19th person to reach EGOT status after Viola Davis achieved the feat when she won a Grammy last year. Other performers who have EGOTs include Whoopi Goldberg, Jennifer Hudson and John Legend.

David Furnish, a producer on the concert special, said John was overjoyed Monday night about winning his first-ever Emmy. Furnish said a “incredibly honored” John was unable to attend the awards ceremony since he's recovering from recent surgery.

“We Facetimed him. We woke him up in the middle of the night,” Furnish said while holding John’s award backstage. “He’s back in the UK. He’s had his left knee replaced — which isn't surprising when you think of the number of pianos he’s jumped off.”

John’s concert was the last of a three-night stand at the stadium in Los Angeles as part of the North American leg of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which began in September 2018 with the first of the 300-plus scheduled dates. It was suspended in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic and resumed in 2021.

His final show, which drew more than 50,000 people, had guest appearances from a new generation of stars, including Dua Lipa and Brandi Carlile.

The singer’s aired special beat out the Apple Music Super Bowl halftime show starring Rihanna, as well as ABC’s Oscars telecast, CBS’s Tony Award telecast and Netflix’s “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage.”

“Tonight is a testament to the power of the arts and the joy that it brings to all our lives,” John said. “Thank you to everyone who has supported me throughout my career. I am incredibly grateful.”



Walt Disney Earnings Beat Market Estimates; Profit Slips at Parks

The entrance to Walt Disney studios is seen in Burbank, California, US August 6, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
The entrance to Walt Disney studios is seen in Burbank, California, US August 6, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
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Walt Disney Earnings Beat Market Estimates; Profit Slips at Parks

The entrance to Walt Disney studios is seen in Burbank, California, US August 6, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights
The entrance to Walt Disney studios is seen in Burbank, California, US August 6, 2018. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights

Walt Disney reported on Wednesday quarterly earnings that exceeded Wall Street expectations, buoyed by the success of animated Pixar film "Inside Out 2", which helped overcome a profit decline at theme parks.

April-June operating income nearly tripled at its Entertainment unit, with the combined streaming businesses of Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ posting a profit for the first time, Reuters reported.

But the company's shares slipped 0.8% before the bell as its experiences segment that includes parks and consumer products - and makes up just over half of profit - recorded an operating income drop of 3%. Disney said "moderation" of demand at its US parks could continue through the next few quarters.

Operating income for the unit is likely to fall by "mid single digits" in the July-September quarter compared with the same period a year prior, Disney said.

Adjusted earnings-per-share reached $1.39 for Disney's fiscal third quarter, topping analyst estimates of $1.19, LSEG data showed. Revenue rose 4% to $23.2 billion, beating forecasts of $23.1 billion.

Chief Executive Bob Iger touted success in the entertainment division, where Disney's combined streaming businesses turned a profit a quarter ahead of its projections.

"We are confident in our ability to continue driving earnings growth through our collection of unique and powerful assets," Iger said in a statement.

Iger is working to rebuild Disney after billions of dollars in loss from streaming efforts, the decline of traditional television and a rough patch for its storied film studio.

The movie studio is showing signs of resurgence.

"Inside Out 2" notched $1.6 billion in global ticket sales and "Deadpool & Wolverine," which debuted in the current quarter, has brought in more than $850 million.

"After several years of misfires and muted successes, Disney has now in the span of a month and a half released the highest grossing animated film of all time and achieved the largest ever opening for an R-Rated film," MoffettNathanson media analyst Robert Fishman wrote ahead of Disney's earnings release.

While it remains to be seen whether those successes represent a return to form, Fishman said, the upcoming film slate is "filled with highly dependable" titles including "Moana 2" and Oscar-winning director Barry Jenkins' "Mufasa: The Lion King."

The Entertainment division, which includes the film, television and streaming businesses, reported operating income of $1.2 billion in the quarter.

The Disney+, Hulu and ESPN+ streaming services produced operating profit of $47 million.

At the Sports unit, which includes the ESPN network and Star India business, operating income reached $802 million, a 6% decline from the previous year as costs to air cricket matches increased.

The experiences unit reported operating income of $2.2 billion. Demand slid at domestic parks, cruise ships, consumer products and some international parks "delivered improved results," Disney said.

Ben Barringer, technology and media analyst at Quilter Cheviot, said the parks results "pour fuel onto the fire" of concern about a slowing US economy.

"Coupled with other travel companies recognizing poor growth, it is clear people are scaling back their spend when it comes to tourism and recreation," Barringer said. "Some of this is due to Disneyland Paris struggling due to the Olympics being in town, as well as China going through its own economic problems, but the guide is not a positive one and thus we should expect further struggles through the rest of the year."