Pittsburgh ( CNN ) -- Singer Elton John paid tribute to his friend and fellow AIDS-activist , Elizabeth Taylor , at a concert in Pittsburgh Wednesday night . `` Today I lost a friend and you lost a hero named Elizabeth Taylor , '' the singer told a cheering crowd at the Consol Energy Center . `` She was not just a movie star , although she was a huge movie star and there will never be anyone like her again ... She was without a doubt one of the greatest people I 've ever met in my life . '' `` She stood up when no one was prepared to stand up and be counted against AIDS , '' John continued . `` She supported everybody in that with 1,000 % of her body and her fiber . But most of all she loved people . She fought for the underdog . She was an incredible woman and I was privileged to have known her . '' As John began to play the opening notes of his song `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' he said `` God bless you , Elizabeth . God knows how we 're going to replace you . This is for you and your beautiful memory and for all the people you helped and saved . '' Taylor and John have been active for years in raising awareness about AIDS and HIV , as well as raising money for research and care for sufferers . John accepted an award on her behalf from the group she helped create , the American Foundation for AIDS Research ( amfAR ) , at the group 's 25th annual black-tie benefit in February . Taylor passed away early Wednesday at the age of 79 .
Elton John and Elizabeth Taylor worked together on AIDS-issues for years . Comment: John dedicated `` Do n't Let the Sun Go Down on Me '' to Taylor . John : Taylor was `` one of the greatest people I 've ever met in my life ''