Mariah’s the £2.5m wedding singer
Elton ditches charity gig for ‘medical reasons’ – then picks up £1m crooning for oligarch’s girl while Mariah’s handed £2.5m
BOUNDING around the stage in his sparkling jacket and sunglasses, a beaming Sir Elton John looked in fine form during his latest public appearance.
Just days earlier he had pulled out of a forthcoming charity concert citing urgent ‘medical conditions’.
On Saturday the 69-year-old singer performed at the London wedding of a Russian billionaire’s granddaughter for a reported £1million fee. American diva Mariah Carey was said to have been paid £2.5million to sing at the same event.
This was only four days after a statement said Sir Elton needed an ‘immediate medical procedure’ and so could not appear at the Autism Rocks event in Dubai this coming Friday, January 20.
Some on social media have been sceptical, questioning his decision to pull out of the gig – especially given that his moneyspinning residency in Las Vegas on February 7 and 8 is still due to go ahead.
Posting on his Facebook page, fan Keith Hayward wrote: ‘How come Elton John can play at the wedding of a Russian fashion designer but was too ill to play for Autism in Dubai? Just asking’, while Helen Farmer tweeted: ‘I thought Elton John was too ill to perform in Dubai? Yet fine to perform at oligarch’s granddaughter’s wedding...’
Ken Guy posted on Twitter: ‘Elton John has cancelled his show in Dubai TWICE due to “illness”. Still playing Vegas though. Ticket sales?’, while a Dubai-based blogger wrote: ‘Looks like Sir Elton got a much much much better offer than being in Dubai!’
However, it is understood that Sir Elton will have minor surgery later this week, leaving him unable to travel to the Middle East on doctor’s orders.
Happily, he hopes to be fit enough to perform at Caesar’s Palace for his popular The Million Dollar Piano show in Las Vegas, for which he earns around £330,000 a night.
It is the second time the star has pulled out of the concert in Dubai. He first withdrew when it was originally scheduled for December 15, blaming flu. Promotion company 117 announced the rescheduled showcase would be held this Friday. But last week they once again announced it would have to be rearranged because of the singer’s health, pushing the new date back to December 8 this year.
The statement read: ‘Although not of a seriously threatening nature, he has been advised by his doctors to schedule a medical procedure to treat his condition immediately.’
Fans, many paying upwards of £180 a ticket, have been promised a refund if they cannot make the rescheduled date.
Aided by the Dubai government, Autism Rocks has built a 21,000seat arena to boost awareness of autism through charitable music events. All funds raised by the registered charity go to the Autism Research Trust, which supports research by the Autism Research Centre at Cambridge University.
On Saturday Sir Elton opened the show at Russian tycoon Valery Kogan’s bash with his hit Tiny Dancer, performing a 12-song setlist.
The event – the wedding of Kogan’s 19-year-old granddaughter Irene Kogan to Daniel Kenvey – was held at London’s Landmark hotel. Guests enjoyed a nine-course dinner with champagne, before the newlyweds cut a 6ft tiered cake.
Last night a spokesman for Sir Elton declined to comment.