Elton John Impact Awards to Celebrate LGBTQ+ Trailblazers and Raise Millions for Advocacy Groups

Entertainment icons, activists and rising stars are coming together this Pride Month for a new celebration aimed at amplifying LGBTQ+ voices while raising money for organizations on the front lines of equality and health advocacy.

iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble have announced the launch of the inaugural Elton John Impact Awards, a new audio and podcast-focused awards special evolving from the successful “Can’t Cancel Pride” franchise, which has raised more than $17 million for LGBTQ+ nonprofits over the last five years.  

Hosted by Billy Porter and Elvis Duran, the special will premiere June 1 across the iHeartMedia ecosystem, including the iHeartRadio app, podcast platforms and iHeartRadio PRIDE stations.

This year’s honorees include Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Melissa Etheridge, Billie Jean King, Orville Peck and Chappell Roan — all recognized for their contributions to LGBTQ+ visibility, advocacy and culture. The special will also feature a performance of Elton John’s classic “Your Song” by Dove Cameron.  

According to organizers, the program will blend award presentations with personal conversations featuring honorees, Elton John and David Furnish, highlighting stories of resilience, activism and identity.

“I’ve always believed in the power of storytelling to connect us and challenge us,” Elton John said in a statement. “These conversations bring together the people who have shaped LGBTQ+ culture and fought for dignity at a time when the world too often looked away.”  

Furnish, chair of the Elton John AIDS Foundation, emphasized the urgency behind the initiative as LGBTQ+ communities continue to face political and social challenges worldwide.

“At a time when LGBTQ+ rights and health equity remain under threat globally, investing in organizations on the frontlines has never been more important,” Furnish said.  

The awards special will also help fund several LGBTQ+ organizations, including the Elton John AIDS Foundation, GLAAD, CenterLink, the National Black Justice Collective, Outright International, SAGE and The Trevor Project. Brandi Carlile’s Looking Out Foundation is also partnering with the initiative.  

The Elton John Impact Awards mark a major expansion of Pride-related programming in podcasting and digital audio, creating what organizers describe as the first awards show of its kind dedicated specifically to LGBTQ+ impact and storytelling in the audio space.

The special arrives during a year in which many advocacy groups say support and visibility are more important than ever, with ongoing debates surrounding LGBTQ+ protections, healthcare access and youth resources across the United States and internationally.

Fans can stream the Elton John Impact Awards beginning June 1 through the iHeartRadio app and participating podcast platforms.