At his farewell performance in Toronto on Thursday night, Elton John paid homage to Queen Elizabeth II, expressing his sadness at her passing and saying she had inspired him.

John stated, “She guided the nation through some of its finest and saddest crises with dignity and sincere compassion.”

Being 75 years old and having known her all of his life, he added, “I feel really sorry that she won’t be with me anymore, but I’m delighted she’s at peace.” “I’m happy for her to be resting; she deserves it. She toiled so hard.

The singer-songwriter then played “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” a tune from 1974.

At the age of 96, the queen passed away on Thursday at her vacation home in Scotland.

In 1998, a year after the passing of John’s friend Princess Diana, the queen knighted him. The singer and charitable supporter was also named a Companion of Honor by Prince Charles last year.

John’s performance, which was a part of his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, which was advertised as his last tour, took place on the second of two nights at Toronto’s Rogers Centre.