NEW YORK -- 鈥淛oker鈥� composer Hildur Gudnadottir made history by becoming the first woman in 19 years to win best original score at the Golden Globes, where Elton John and Bernie Taupin finally won a major award together after collaborating for 52 years.
鈥淭his is truly 鈥� I鈥檓 speechless,鈥� Gudnadottir said onstage Sunday.
She was the sole female nominee, besting Randy Newman (鈥淢arriage Story鈥�), Alexandre Desplat (鈥淟ittle Women鈥�), Thomas Newman (鈥�1917鈥�) and Daniel Pemberton (鈥淢otherless Brooklyn鈥�) to win the prize. The last woman to win the Globe for best original score was Lisa Gerrard in 2001 for 鈥淕ladiator,鈥� which she shared with Hans Zimmer.
Gudnadottir is a classically trained cellist from Iceland who won an Emmy in September for scoring 鈥淐hernobyl鈥� and is also up for a Grammy for her work on the HBO series. She thanked 鈥淛oker鈥� director Todd Philipps, best actor winner Joaquin Phoenix and executive music producer Jason Ruder.
Early in the night, John and Taupin won best original song for writing 鈥�(I鈥檓 Gonna) Love Me Again鈥� from his 鈥淩ocketman鈥� biopic.
鈥�(It鈥檚) the first time I鈥檝e ever won an award with him, ever,鈥� John said onstage looking to Taupin. 鈥淲e never won a Grammy. We never did anything together except for this, and I鈥檓 so happy.鈥�
John won an Academy Award and Golden Globe with Tim Rice for 鈥淐an You Feel the Love Tonight鈥� from the original 鈥淭he Lion King.鈥� John has also won five Grammy Awards.
Taupin won his first Golden Globe with Gustavo Santaolalla for 鈥淎 Love That Will Never Grow Old鈥� from 鈥淏rokeback Mountain.鈥�
鈥淭his is really sweet because this is not just about a song we wrote for a movie, this is a song we wrote for a movie which deals with our relationship, and it鈥檚 a relationship that doesn鈥檛 happen very much in this town. It鈥檚 a 52-year-old marriage, so thank you,鈥� Taupin said.
Together, the duo have crafted John songs like 鈥淏ennie and the Jets,鈥� 鈥淕oodbye Yellow Brick Road,鈥� 鈥淩ocket Man,鈥� 鈥淭iny Dancer,鈥� 鈥淐andle in the Wind鈥� and 鈥淪aturday Night鈥檚 Alright for Fighting.鈥�
鈥�(I鈥檓 Gonna) Love Me Again鈥� and 鈥淛oker鈥� were shortlisted for best original song and best original score, respectively, at the 2020 Academy Awards, which will take place Feb. 9.
John and Taupin beat out Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Cynthia Erivo and the wife-husband songwriting team Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez to win the Golden Globe.
鈥淭hank you to all my fellow nominees, they鈥檙e all great songwriters,鈥� John said.
He called making 鈥淩ocketman鈥� one of the 鈥渕ost emotional moments in my life.鈥�
At the Globes, Taron Egerton won best performance by an actor in a motion picture 鈥� musical or comedy for portraying John.
鈥淭hank you for the music,鈥� Egerton said to John. 鈥淭hank you for being my friend.鈥�
