Elton John wasn’t afraid to be self-deprecating when he joined Brandi Carlile to present on stage at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards on Sunday.
The 77-year-old music legend and the 43-year-old singer–songwriter joined forces to hand out the award for best original film score, which went to musicians and composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their score to Challengers, which was heavy on pulsing electronic beats.
But before he shared his good news for the Nine Inch Nails members, Elton got the audience in stitches with a joke about his failing eyesight, which he revealed he was suffering from in July of last year.
‘There’s been a lot of stories going on around about my regressive eyesight, and I just wanted to reassure everybody that it’s not as bad as it seems,’ he began on a reassuring note at the ceremony, which is hosted by Emmy-nominated comedian Nikki Glaser at The Beverly Hilton hotel in Beverly Hills.
‘So, I’m so pleased to be here with my co-host,’ he continued, adding a pause for comedic effect, ‘Rihanna!’
Brandi kept her cool even as the audience laughed at the mistaken identification joke and began her speech after a short pause for applause.
Elton John, 77, had the audience in stitches at the 2025 Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills on Sunday when he poked fun at his own failing eyesight with co-presenter Brandi Carlile, 43
‘I just wanted to reassure everybody that it’s not as bad as it seems,’ he began reassuringly, before adding, ‘I’m so pleased to be here with my co-host… Rihanna’
She paid tribute to the ’emotional landscape’ of film scores, which create ‘a conversation with the audience through the music.’
At the end of their time on stage, the two singers revealed that Reznor and Ross’ acclaimed score for Challengers had won. Reznor, who went from the frontman of a popular industrial band to one of the most acclaimed film composers of all time, shared a hug with Elton, who has scored films including The Lion King.
Although it was their buzzier score of the year thanks to its dance rhythms, the duo also collaborated again with director Luca Guadagnino for the acclaimed score to Queer, his adaptation of the William S. Burroughs novella of the same name, which is led by former Bond star Daniel Craig.
Elton looked smart at the ceremony in aa black tuxedo that he paired with a black shirt, while Brandi was his polar opposite in a lovely cream-colored tux with a shawl lapel that was far longer than Elton’s.
She tastefully layered the look with a cream-colored waistcoat and capped it off with a tie-free white shirt.
Elton was joined back at his table by his longtime husband David Furnish, whom he began dating in 1993, before they got a civil partnership in 2005 and later tied the knot in 2014 in the UK after same-sex marriage became legal there.
David rocked a tie-free black tuxedo with notched lapels and a white shirt.
Brandi sat at the same table at the Candle In The Wind singer, along with her wife Catherine Shepherd, whom she married in 2012.
Elton and Brandi presented best original film score to Nine Inch Nails masterminds Atticus Ross (L) and Trent Reznor (R) for their score to Luca Guadagnino’s Challengers
Reznor, who went from the frontman of a popular industrial band to one of the most acclaimed film composers of all time, shared a hug with Elton, who has scored films including The Lion King
Elton was joined by his longtime husband David Furnish, while Brandi sat with them and her wife Catherine Shepherd
Brandi gave Elton a sweet peck on the cheek during some downtime
Elton (pictured here with Glenn Close) revealed he had lost sight in his right eye during a July 2024 Good Morning America interview. The setback was caused by an infection he contracted in France
Catherine favored an all-black suit that contrasted her wife’s tux nicely.
Elton first revealed major negative developments regarding his eyesight during an interview on Good Morning America in July of 2024.
He announced that he had lost sight in his right eye due to an infection he contracted while in France.
‘It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see,’ he admitted. ‘And my left eye is not the greatest. So there’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment.’
Although he had hope that his vision might return, he shared that it made recording new music nearly impossible.
‘Because I can do something like this, but going into the studio and recording I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric for a start,’ he explained. ‘We’re taking an initiative to try and get it better, but at the moment that’s really what we’re concentrating on.’
Despite the setback, Elton’s humorous appearance at the Globes proved his eyesight isn’t stopping him from delighting his fans.
This year, Wicked’s Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo and musical drama Emilia Perez lead the Golden Globes nominations.
Wicked’s Ariana Grande and Cynthia Erivo landed nominations at the 2025 Golden Globes for the starring roles in Wicked (pictured)
Selena Gomez is nominated for her role in Emilia Perez (pictured)
Jacques Audiard’s surreal narco-thriller musical about a Mexican drug lord who transitions to live as a woman led the nominations with 10, as the race to the Oscars heats up.
The genre-defying film stars transgender actress Karla Sofía Gascón as the title character, along with actress–singer Selena Gomez and Zoe Saldaña in supporting roles.
All three are up for prizes at the Golden Globes, which are widely seen as a bellwether for the Academy Awards.
The smash hit Wicked, the film adaptation of the hit Broadway musical, earned four nominations, including one apiece for pop sensation Grande and Tony award winner Erivo.
Grande, who earned her first ever Golden Globe nomination, is featured in the category for Best Supporting Female Actor — Motion Picture for her role as Galinda Upland in the fantasy drama, which is inspired by The Wizard Of Oz.
The versatile star will compete alongside close friend Selena Gomez for her role in Emilia Perez, as well as Margaret Qualley, who won universally positive reviews for her body shock horror film The Substance.
Isabella Rossellini is also nominated for her role in Concave, as is Zoe Saldana, again for Emilia Perez.
Ahead of the nominations, Variety Senior Awards Editor Clayton Davis suggested organizers should save the last three categories of the night for comedy–musical honors, especially lead actress, which he called ‘the bloodbath category.’
Elsewhere Demi Moore as been acknowledged for her starring role in The Substance, earning a nomination for Best Female Actor in a Motion Picture — Musical/Comedy
Australian actress Cate Blanchett has also been acknowledged, with the serial winner earning a nomination in the Best Female Actor in a Limited Series nomination for her role in Disclaimer
British star Eddie Redmayne was among early contenders after being named in the category for Best Television Actor in a Drama Series for his starring role in The Day Of The Jackal
British Netflix drama Baby Reindeer has also been acknowledged, with the Richard Gadd–written show featuring in the category for Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture
Jessica Gunning starred as Richard Gadd’s stalker Martha Scott in the series, and she has been nominated in the category for Best Supporting Female Actor — Television
He could be right, with Erivo, Emilia Perez star Karla Sofía Gascón and Anora star Mikey Madison battling for the lead actress prize with perennial awards-favorite Amy Adams for Nightbitch, as well as Demi Moore for The Substance and Challengers star Zendaya.
Wicked also received a nod for Cinematic and Box Office Achievement, along with the hit films Deadpool & Wolverine, Twisters, Inside Out 2, the sequel Beetlejuice Beetlejuice and the surprisingly overlooked Gladiator II.
Brady Corbet’s The Brutalist is among the contenders for Best Motion Picture Drama, while Adam Brody and British star Felicity Jones scored acting nods alongside Guy Pearce for supporting.
The category also features two films starring Timothée Chalamet, his Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown and Denis Villeneuve’s Dune: Part Two.
Chalamet is also up for best actor in a motion picture drama for his role as influential folk singer Dylan, alongside British star Daniel Craig for Queer, Sebastian Stan for his role as Donald Trump in The Apprentice and Colman Domingo for Sing Sing, a film about a man imprisoned for a crime he did not commit who finds purpose by acting in a theatre group.
The nominations haul for Conclave includes British actor Ralph Fiennes, who leads the pack for Best Actor in a Drama for his portrayal of a conflicted priest overseeing a papal election.
British star Eddie Redmayne was among the early contenders after being named in the category for Best Television Actor in a Drama Series for his starring role in the Sky Original series The Day Of The Jackal.
The actor faces stiff competition from Jake Gyllenhaal for Presumed Innocent, while Donald Glover also earned a nomination for his role in Mr. & Mrs. Smith.
Jeremy Allen White lands his latest nomination for The Bear, this time in the category for Best Television Male Actor in a Musical/Comedy series
Hollywood legend Kathy Bates also features among this years nominees, with her role in Matlock earning a place in the category for Best Television Female Actor in a Drama Series
Gary Oldman’s starring role in the Apple TV+ series Slow Horses has earned him a richly deserved nomination, while Hiroyuki Sanada and Billy Bob Thornton win respective nods for Shōgun and Landman.
Netflix drama Baby Reindeer has also been acknowledged, with the Richard Gadd–written show featuring in the category for Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or Television Motion Picture and its lead actress Jessica Gunning getting a nod in the Best Supporting Female Actor category.
The show will compete alongside the hugely popular Ripley, the controversial biopic Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story, True Detective: Night Country and The Penguin.
Baby Reindeer earned another acknowledgement in the opposing Male Actor in a Limited Series category, with Gadd featured alongside Colin Farrell for The Penguin, Kevin Kline for Disclaimer, Andrew Scott for Ripley, Kevin Kline for Disclaimer and newcomer Cooper Koch for Monsters: The Lyle And Erik Menendez Story.
Elsewhere, Jon M. Chu and Ridley Scott were surprise omissions from the Best Director — Motion Picture category, despite respective blockbusters Wicked and Gladiator II enjoying enormous box office success.
Instead, Emilia Perez director Jacques Audiard joined Sean Baker for Anora, Edward Berger for Concave, Bradley Corbet for The Brutalist, Coralie Fareget for The Substance and Payal Kapadia for All We Imagine Is Light in a hotly contested six-strong group.
Australian actress Cate Blanchett has also been acknowledged, with the serial winner earning a nomination in the Best Female Actor in a Limited Series nomination for her role in Disclaimer.
She joins Jodie Foster for her triumphant turn in True Detective: Night Country, Naomi Watts for Feud Capote Vs The Swans, Cristin Milioti for The Penguin and British star Kate Winslet for The Regime.
Jodie Foster’s triumphant turn in True Detective: Night Country has earned her a nomination in the category for Best Female Actor in a Limited Series
Jeremy Allen White lands his latest nomination for The Bear, this time in the category for Best Television Male Actor in a Musical/Comedy series.
The actor joins Adam Brody for Nobody Wants This, Ted Danson for A Man On The Inside, and Steve Martin and Martin Short for Only Murders In The Building.
Hollywood legend Kathy Bates also featured among this years nominees, with her role in Matlock earning a place in the category for Best Television Female Actor in a Drama Series.
Last year, the Golden Globes proved a successful night for Oppenheimer, which scored five major awards during the ceremony.
British filmmaker Sir Christopher Nolan was named best director for the first time after six nominations, while Irish actor Cillian Murphy took home best actor in a drama for his work as the father of the atomic bomb.
During the event, Cheers legend Ted Danson will receive the Carol Burnett Award for those who have ‘made outstanding contributions to television on or off screen’ and Viola Davis will be handed the Cecil B. DeMille Award for achievement in film.