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Elton John's 2013 Oscar Party: The Biggest Yet

Get the inside scoop on what's going down at the music legend's annual AIDS benefit

By Marc Malkin Feb 23, 2013 4:15 AMTags
Elton John, Victoria BeckhamDimitrios Kambouris/WireImage

Elton John and David Furnish's Oscar party never fails to impress.

Close to 1,000 people will gather under a tent in West Hollywood park on Sunday night to help raise an estimated $4 million for the Elton John AIDS Foundation. "It's the biggest yet," Furnish says.

The guest list includes Miley Cyrus, Kourtney and Kim Kardashian, Katy Perry, Heidi Klum, Chris Brown, Lea Michele, Cory Monteith, Sean Penn, Nicki Minaj, Taye Diggs, Christina Hendricks, Matthew Morrison, Ian Somerhalder, Chris Colfer, Colton Haynes, Steven Tyler, Wilmer Valderrama and many more.

Dimitrious Kambouris/WireImage

"Elton and I make it a point to go around and greet every table, every person during the [Oscars] broadcast," Furnish says. "We're probably the only people who don't want the Oscars shorter so we have enough time to greet our guests."

The lavish menu (designed by bad boy celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay) includes short rib, red snapper and sticky toffee pudding. With 40 cases of Veuve Cliquot champagne and 80 cases of Bianchi wine on hand, there will be plenty to drink.

The night will include a performance by "Next to Me" singer Emeli Sandé. As always, a piano is there just in case John decides he wants to sing, too.

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John and Furnish have invited their friend Adele to stop by after the show—hopefully with an Oscar for Best Original Song for "Skyfall." "My fingers and toes are crossed that she wins," Furnish said.

There will also be a separate room for close friends to visit with Furnish and John's sons, Zachary, 2, and six-week-old Elijah.

"I think we're certainly going to end AIDS in my children's lifetime," Furnish said. "And I'd love for that to be sooner than later."