Golden Globes 2025: Elton John gets humorous about his eyesight; refers to Brandi Carlile as Rihanna while presenting Best Original Score Award

Legendary musician Elton John took the stage at the 2025 Golden Globes alongside Brandi Carlile to present the award for Best Original Score – Motion Picture. True to his style, John injected humour into the ceremony, jokingly referring to Carlile as “Rihanna,” much to the delight of the audience.

Before diving into the presentation, Elton addressed recent reports about his eyesight. The 76-year-old artist reassured fans that while his vision has been impacted—most notably by an eye infection he experienced during a vacation in France in 2024—it is “not as bad as it appears.” He shared that the loss of vision in his right eye has affected his ability to read or watch films, though his trademark wit and charisma remain intact.

He then gestured to his co-host, Carlile, who was standing next to him, and joked, “So, I'm so pleased to be here with my co-host—Rihanna.”

Following John’s lighthearted moment, Carlile eloquently described the role of a movie’s score as an “emotional landscape” that engages audiences through music. The pair then announced the winners: Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their work on Challengers.