Elton John performed with hip-hop star Eminem at the 2001 Grammy Awards. They performed “Stan,” Eminem’s dramatic hit about an obsessed fan, with Eminem rapping and John providing vocals and piano accompaniment.
The performance attracted major attention because Eminem’s lyrics had been criticized as homophobic and misogynistic, while Elton John was one of the world’s most prominent openly gay musicians. Their collaboration therefore became an unexpected public display of musical solidarity. John later said he admired Eminem’s talent and considered him a friend.
“Stan” was built around a sample of Dido’s song “Thank You,” whose melody appears in the original recording. Dido did not join Eminem onstage at the Grammys; Elton John took the featured performance role instead. The ceremony was the 43rd Annual Grammy Awards, held in Los Angeles on February 21, 2001, and the duet remains one of the event’s most memorable moments.