Lola Young makes triumphant concert return at Elton John Oscars party

LOS ANGELES − At Elton John’s glitzy Oscars after-party, Lola Young let her voice do the talking. 

The British newcomer kept her onstage patter to a minimum as she performed a tight 30-minute set for a starry crowd that included Chris Perfetti, Billy Eichner and Chris Colfer, who huddled inside a giant white tent in the middle of West Hollywood Park on March 15. 

The 34th annual event raised $10.6 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which funds HIV prevention and treatment. Although John performed during last year’s party with guest artist Chappell Roan, the music icon was much more subdued this go-around: holding court at a table with his husband, David Furnish, their two teenage sons, and his friend Brandi Carlile. 

“A massive thank you to Elton and his husband, David,” Young told the audience at the top of the show. “I met this man − obviously, a living legend − and I feel a very special bond with him, which is weird that I’m even saying that. But him and David are incredible people. 

“So now that we’ve spent our money, let’s put our money where our mouth is,” Young added. “I’m going to play some songs and have some fun! You look sexy and hot this evening!” 

Armed with her raspy belt and an arsenal of expletives, Young, 25, playfully powered through songs including “D£aler,” “Post Sex Clarity,” “Conceited” and her breakthrough viral hit “Messy,” which won best pop solo performance at this year’s Grammy Awards and has racked up more than 1.1 billion streams on Spotify alone. 

Young has slowly started to return to performing in recent months, after collapsing on stage during All Things Go festival in New York last September. The singer recently told Rolling Stone that she checked herself into a rehab facility to address her addiction and mental health issues.