At Rush's Wedding
Now that it's over I have permission to talk: Have just left the most warm, fabulous, elegant, tasteful, beautiful wedding and party -- Rush Limbaugh marrying his beloved, fabulous Kathryn -- and the surprise of the night was a truly wonderful mystery-guest performance by... Elton John!
Outstanding renditions of one beloved song after another -- Sir Elton hasn't lost it at all. Standing ovations on almost every number, all wonderfully rendered. Most interesting: this all came about because they all were staying at the same hotel in Hawaii when Rush got sick, and EJ inquired through management, genuinely concerned that Rush was OK. A few days later, Kathryn inquired if Sir Elton would possibly be available to and interested in playing at their wedding, and when Sir Elton got the message from his agent saying "I'm sure you won't want to do this", Elton John replied "Oh, I certainly do!" and even moved some other dates to accommodate it.
While both are fully cognizant of political differences, Sir Elton is genuinely open minded about getting to know people of different viewpoints and sees himself as a bridge builder; and having had several exchanges with Rush is touched by his personal warmth and history and how much they were able to identify with each other.
Would that everyone were that way!
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Re: At Rush's Wedding
I'm reminded, Heather, of Hunter Thompson's reference to certain folks at the peak of the social mountain (he included himself) as "snow leopards:" people who were beholden to no one for their incredible success, people who knew what it meant to be up, down, sideways, backwards, and finally on top of the wheel of fortune, with no repose and none to rely on for succour save themselves.
Not that Rush and Elton, from the vantage point of the more recent half of their careers, seem terribly Thompsonian in their rugged climb to superstardom. But early on? Neither man was born a celebrity.
There's a certain kinship up there at the top of the mountain, which is simultaneously offputting to regular folks yet also instructive and maybe even inspiring. Some on the right and the left might be disgusted by a vision of Rush and Elton grooving together so blithely on Celebrity Cloud Nine, alienated from the realities that power conservative and liberal grievances alike. Still...isn't that friendliness at least a reminder of an attitude we can bring to our own ordinary everyday political exchanges? As you suggest, beneath the apparent superficiality is a deeper story.
Re: At Rush's Wedding
The idea of Elton John, married gay man, singing at Rush's wedding warmed my heart. Truly. No sarcasm. I love it. Let's see what the main stream media does with it. Thanks for letting us know, Heather.
Re: At Rush's Wedding
I'm not really that surprised about Elton. Very cool.
May '10
Re: At Rush's Wedding
May it be a long and happy marriage.
Re: At Rush's Wedding
Reminds me of a story Bill Buckley related in a column many years ago. It was his housekeeper's daughter's birthday, and he and his friend Marvin had vowed to get the girl whatever she asked for -- which turned out to be Elton John's autograph. Bill was stumped. He wrote that between the two of them they knew the President, the Pope, Golda Meir, and whole hosts of celebrities, but they didn't know anyone who knew anyone who knew Elton John. How times have changed....
Re: At Rush's Wedding
Amazing! It says a lot about both of them, I think. But especially Rush -- he's so demonized by the left. I actually listen to him rarely -- he's on at the wrong time for me on the west coast -- but every time the left (and the president) take shots at him, I usually tune in over the next day or so, and it's such an odd sense of displacement. His show really is smart and low-key. And he's so basically polite. And wonkish, a lot of the time, which shows what an amazing broadcaster he is -- he makes policy interesting, for millions of people each day.
Although the cynic in me keeps clicking this, just to see how the various entrenched groups are handing this.
May '10
Re: At Rush's Wedding
Bless them both!
Still time to start a family - I hope they do.
Speaking from experience: Father of six, married 60 years.
May '10
Re: At Rush's Wedding
Some things can be improbable and logical at the same time. It's not particularly well known but Elton and his partner David Furnish are close friends with "picture-in-the-encyclopaedia-entry" conservatives, Conrad Black and his wife Barbara Amiel. When Lord Black launched the 'National Post' in Canada in 2010, he did so with a party at the Toronto International Film Festival to support a film by David Furnish called 'Women Talking Dirty'. The 'National Post' i.e. Conrad Black, picked up the entire, not-unsubtantial tab.
May '10
Re: At Rush's Wedding
Of course, in the post above, I meant 2000, not 2010.