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In a statement to Rolling Stone, Elton said “David and I are thrilled to gather with friends and supporters once again, and we’re honoured to welcome the bold and authentic Chappell Roan as this year’s performer, whose artistry embodies the power of music to inspire change.”

John’s yearly party is in support of the Aids Foundation, raising funds for research and fighting the stigma around AIDS in the LGBTQ community. Other confirmed co-hosts for the event include Jean Smart, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Neil Patrick Harris and David Burkta. Confirmed attendees also include Megan Thee Stallion, Hozier, Sharon Stone, Mick Jagger and Sean Penn.

2024 saw a meteoric rise for Chappell, from near obscurity to incredible success. The outspoken songstress has been vocal about the harsher side of fame and extreme fan behaviour, which had many fellow artists sharing their solidarity with her.

Sir Elton has said that he’s spoken to her on Facebook and offered advice on dealing with her sudden fame: “Chappell was a little overwhelmed with her sudden success — although she’d been writing for a long time, it really kind of ballooned very quickly. I just try and calm her down and say, ‘Listen, it’s fine. It’s fine. Do what you want. Don’t listen to anybody. Walk at your own speed. Do not listen to the record company saying, ‘We want another album, we want another album.’ Do it when you’re ready to do it.’”

On Sunday, Elton appeared at the Golden Globes to present the award for Best Original Score alongside Brandi Carlile, taking the opportunity to jokingly reference his recent loss of vision.

“There’s been a lot of stories going around about my regressive eyesight, I just want to reassure everyone: It’s not as bad as it seems. So, I’m so pleased to be here with my cohost, Rihanna,” he joked, while gesturing to his co-presenter Carlile.

Chappell Roan has kicked off the year to a good start, being crowned BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2025. She was picked as the winner by a panel of over 180 musicians and experts, including Sir Elton John himself.

Jack Saunders, host of Radio 1’s New Music show, sung her praises: “No one deserves this accolade more than Chappell Roan. She was the most exciting artist of the last 12 months and is now set to be the artist of the next 12 months.”

THE LINEUP OF SUMMER 2025 HAS JUST LANDED and I KNOW you don’t wanna miss out on the biggest weekend of the year @ThreeUK & @MastercardUK presales start tomorrow 12pm
Festival presale starts Saturday 12pm (last chance to sign up in bio)
General sale starts Monday 12pm… pic.twitter.com/5DkXEArYDi

— Reading & Leeds Fest (@OfficialRandL) December 5, 2024

Chappel Roan’s debut album, ‘The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess’ (2023) received critical acclaim, appearing on numerous best-of-the-year lists and earning Grammy nominations. The album saw significant success, even topping the Scottish charts and peaking at #1 on the UK Albums Chart during its 29-week run. This year’s single ‘Good Luck, Babe‘ peaked at #2. Roan’s festival debut is eagerly anticipated, as 2025 marks her first major UK festival headline slot. Known for intimate club performances and a growing cult following, this will be her largest audience yet.

Chappell Roan AND Bring Me at Reading Fest next year??? COUNT ME IN IMMEDIATELY
— sar-AAH! (@saraaaaahh) December 5, 2024

Travis Scott is one of hip-hop’s most influential artists, with hits like ‘Sicko Mode’. His live performances are immersive, often involving high-energy mosh pits and elaborate stage designs, reflecting his larger-than-life persona. Travis Scott has headlined global festivals like Coachella and Rolling Loud. His ‘Astroworld Festival’ set a new standard for immersive concert experiences, combining pyrotechnics, visual storytelling, and high-energy performances.

Do you think Travis Scott should bring back Astroworld Festival? pic.twitter.com/TdGSIpwOmq

— travvy (@travis_conno) October 16, 2024

Bring Me The Horizon is a British band which blends metalcore with pop and electronic elements. This band frequently headlines major rock festivals like Download Festival and Reading & Leeds (previously in 2018). Their performances are intense, blending metalcore aggression with crowd-pleasing anthems.

Folk and soul meet in Hozier’s poignant music. Known for ‘Take Me to Church’ and ‘Cherry Wine’, his lyrics often delve into themes of love, social justice, and spirituality, delivered with haunting melodies. Hozier has graced stages at Glastonbury and Electric Picnic, captivating audiences with soulful, stripped-back performances that contrast with festival chaos. His 2025 set promises similar intimacy. If you’re following his work closely, it seems Hozier might take occasional quiet periods for songwriting and reflection, but he remains actively engaged with his music and his audience.

The 2024 Reading & Leeds Festival featured six headline acts: Fred again.., Lana Del Rey, Liam Gallagher, Blink-182, Catfish and the Bottlemen, and Gerry Cinnamon.

Reading & Leeds Festival have issued an apology to fans of Lana Del Rey after cutting her set short.

The singer had a firework show planned for the final song of her set. She instead sat and watched the fireworks with fans as her microphone feed was cut. pic.twitter.com/tFg9D93YtV
— Pop Base (@PopBase) August 25, 2024

Tickets go on pre-sale on December 6, with the general sale following on December, 9. You can check here for Reading and here for Leeds.