Bernie Taupin: Last News

Jem Aswad Senior Music Editor Shortly after the death of Queen Elizabeth II was announced on Thursday, Elton John, who has had a close relationship with the Royal Family for the past several decades, posted a heartfelt remembrance on his social media accounts. “Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was an inspiring presence to be around and led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth. “Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly,” he concluded. Indeed, John was 4 years old when Elizabeth ascended to the crown in 1952.

Sir Elton John has opened up about his health struggles and the fear he feels for his future with his family. On an emotional episode of BBC's The Graham Norton Show, which aired on Friday night, the music icon was there with his musical partner Brandi Carlile to chat about their new single 'Who Believes In Angels?', set to drop on April 4, reports the Mirror.The 77 year old shared a touching moment when he revealed that working on the new song forced him to face his own mortality.

Elton John has revealed that a new song about mortality made him “break down” and reflect on how much time he “has left”.The new track is set to feature in the musician’s forthcoming collaborative album with Brandi Carlile, called ‘Who Believes In Angels?’.Set for release on April 4 via Island EMI, the LP includes collaborations from Andrew Watt and John’s longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. It has so far been previewed with the title track, the 2025 Oscar-nominated song ‘Never Too Late’ and the LGBTQ+ anthem ‘Swing For The Fences’.Now, in a new episode of the Smartless podcast, Sir Elton has discussed another track on the record, and said that the closing song is one that struck him due to its exploration of mortality.“I wrote a song at the end of the album and I just got the lyrics, Bernie Taupin’s lyrics,” he explained in the episode (via Billboard).

Thania Garcia The Songwriters Hall of Fame will recognize Stephen Schwartz — the arranger and composer behind the music from “Wicked,” “Godspell” and “Pippin” — as the recipient of the 2025 Johnny Mercer Award at the Songwriters Hall of Fame Induction and Awards Gala, slated for June 12 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. The Johnny Mercer Award is the most prestigious honor bestowed by the Songwriters Hall of Fame, is exclusively reserved for a songwriter or songwriting team who has already been inducted in a prior year and whose body of work is of “such high quality and impact that it upholds the gold standard set by the legendary Johnny Mercer,” per the SHOF.

Marc Malkin Senior Editor, Culture and Events H.E.R. is weighing in on Oscar producers’ decision not to include performances of this year’s best original song nominees during Sunday’s Academy Awards ceremony.

Andrew Watt is opening up about working with Lady Gaga!

Elton John smashed his iPad and told Brandi Carlile to “fuck off” during the making of their collaborative album ‘Who Believes In Angels?’.Announced on Wednesday (February 5), the record is set for release on April 4 via Island EMI and includes collaborations from Andrew Watt and John’s longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. Visit here to pre-order it.It comes as a follow-up to the legendary artist’s 2021 album, ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, and includes the new title track as well as the 2025 Oscar-nominated song ‘Never Too Late’, which was created especially for the Disney+ documentary of the same name.Now, in a new interview, both John and Carlile have opened up about the making of the album, and revealed that the studio sessions led to some particularly tense moments.“I’m 77. If I don’t push myself, what’s the point of carrying on? Just be ‘Elton John’ for the rest of my life? [That] would have filled me with absolute fucking horror,” the singer-songwriter and pianist told The Guardian.

an Instagram post on Wednesday. A joint effort with Brandi Carlile, Andrew Watt and longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, the LP was recorded in just 20 days back in October 2023 when John was fresh off the success of his Dodgers Stadium and Glastonbury performances.Wanting to create something unlike any of his past work, John made the unprecedented decision to welcome cameras into the studio to document the making of the album.

Elton John and Brandi Carlile have announced details of a new collaborative album called ‘Who Believes In Angels?’. Check out the title track and new making-of film below.The record is set for release on April 4 via Island EMI, and sees the artists join forces with long-time collaborators Andrew Watt – who produced the record – and Bernie Taupin.

Elton John has hinted in the form of personalised letters to fans that he will soon have new music on the way.The letters have been sent out to superfans in the last few weeks, detailing John’s plans for the future and teasing a new album.According to screenshots of John’s letter posted to fan forums (and reported via Clash), the pop legend explained that he was working with Brandi Carlile after she asked him to play piano on a song she was working on.“When we met, I fell in love with her, and we connected straight away,” he wrote. “It was connection, a true connection, emotionally, musically and it’s been one of the greatest friendships of my life.”It inspired John to use the time he had after completing his farewell tour in 2023 to make a new album with “a blank notepad and a world-class band of legendary session musicians”.

this treasured memento.The “Babygirl” star, 57, revealed during a Thursday appearance on “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” that she bought Bernie Taupin’s original handwritten lyrics to Elton John’s 1970 single “Your Song” after the host inquired if she had ever asked someone for their autograph.“Well, I’ve asked people to sign a copy of a book. Philip Roth and Elton John,” she responded to Stephen Colbert, 60.“That was because we bought lyrics of ‘Your Song,’” Kidman added of the tune, written by John, 77, and Taupin, 74.“Where do you keep those?” Colbert asked, to which she replied, “Shh,” as she pressed her finger to her lips.The song has special meaning to Kidman, as it was featured in her 2001 musical movie “Moulin Rouge!” and was performed by Ewan McGregor and Alessandro Safina in the film.In 2019, Kidman and her husband, Keith Urban, performed their own rendition of “Your Song.”In a clip posted to social media at the time, the musician, 57, played the piano while the couple harmonized, and Urban sang, “It’s a little bit funny/This feeling inside/I’m not one of those who can/Easily hide.”As the guitarist belted out: “If I was a sculptor,” Kidman jokingly replied, “But you’re not,” before continuing their duet and ab-libbing along the way.“A little backstage moment before heading to Monterey @KeithUrban,” Kidman captioned the post.“Moulin Rouge!” followed a young Englishman (McGregor) in 1899 Paris, who becomes infatuated with Satine (Kidman), a singer at the Moulin Rouge.

Since first collaborating on 2021’s Spencer, Steven Knight and Pablo Larraín have developed what the former calls “a very Elton John/Bernie Taupin sort of relationship.” Knight, who wrote Spencer and scripted this year’s Larraín-directed Maria, recently spoke with Deadline about his approach to the story thatt reimagines American-Greek soprano Maria Callas in her final days as she reckons with her identity and life.

Elton John has hinted at new music during a recent interview on US TV – you can check out the video below.The legendary singer-songwriter appeared as a guest on CBS’ The Late Show With Stephen Colbert last night (December 17), to promote his new documentary film Never Too Late.Towards the end of the conversation, John reflected on his retirement from live touring last year, saying: “It’s the most fantastic thing in the world […] I ended on a high – my voice was great, the piano playing was great, the band was great.“There are other things I want to do with my life that are more important than touring.”However, the ‘Rocket Man’ icon went on to assure fans that he’s “still gonna make records” and “have a musical future” as he focuses on his family life.“You will be getting some more [music],” John told host Colbert.“The juices have never dried up. They never want to dry up because I’m always looking to create things.

Elton John has strong feelings about the legalization of marijuana.The rock star, who was named Time magazine’s Icon of the Year this week, spoke to the outlet about his storied career, which, for a period of time, was affected by his addiction to drugs and alcohol. John’s experience with addiction led to his firm stance against marijuana use.“I maintain that it’s addictive,” he said.

Elton John has opened up about his process when creating a song and revealed that he moves on to a new track if he can’t nail a melody in an hour.The pop icon and his writing partner Bernie Taupin have spent years together working as a duo and crafting some of the most legendary songs such as ‘Crocodile Rock’, ‘Bennie And The Jets’, ‘Your Song’ and more.Speaking to Time magazine in a profile after being the publication’s Icon Of the Year, the 77-year-old hitmaker opened up on how songs usually tend to effortlessly flow out of him and onto the keys of his piano while reading Taupin’s lyrics.“I know people think, ‘Oh, God, he doesn’t work that hard’. But it’s really effortless.

Sir Elton John has spoken candidly about the significant toll a recent eye infection has taken on his sight, revealing thoughts of feeling "stuck" as he grapples with the health issue.

Elton John has spoken further about his ongoing eye condition, explaining that it has left him “stuck” while attempting to record new music.In September, the legendary singer-songwriter revealed that he had been dealing with a “severe eye infection” over the summer that left him with “only limited vision in one eye”.“I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye,” he continued.“I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks.“I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far.”John has now given an update on his health issue during a new interview on Good Morning America, where he also discussed his upcoming documentary film Never Too Late.“I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the South of France,” he told Robin Roberts. “It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Composing legend Hans Zimmer was the top individual winner at the 15th annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards ceremony held Wednesday night, with three wins. The film “Emilia Pérez” also picked up three wins, followed by “The Wild Robot” and “Deadpool & Wolverine” with two apiece.

Hans Zimmer and Emilia Pérez took home three trophies each to lead the winners at the 2024 Hollywood Music in Media awards, which honor the year’s most memorable film and TV music moments. The Wild Robot was the only other multiple winner, taking a pair of prizes during Wednesday night’s ceremony at The Avalon in Hollywood.

Elton John and Jake Shears’ new musical Tammy Faye has announced it will close just weeks after opening in New York City.The curtain will fall on the Broadway show for the last time on December 8 after receiving a number of poor reviews. It opened on November 14 at the Palace Theatre, while previews began on October 19.With music from John, lyrics by Scissor Sisters’ Shears and a book by James Graham, the show tells the story of the American televangelist Tammy Faye Bakker, who was imprisoned for fraud and conspiracy in 1989.By the time of its closure, the show will have run for 24 previews and 29 regular shows.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic Elton John harbors a strong resistance to living in the past, so even though the new documentary “Elton John: Never Too Late” is filled with retrospective glories, it made sense that he would want the film to go out on a brand new song. Or, as the case may be, a Brandi new song. Brandi Carlile saw the film and was moved to write the words that would give the doc not just a title song but a title — becoming his brown dirt cowgirl, as it were, for the simple task of encapsulating his entire state of being, at this mellowing but still-unretired stage of his life.

Prince Harry asked Sir Elton John to perform Candle in the Wind for the anniversary of his mum's death, but the singer declined, according to Harry's tell-all memoir, Spare. Instead, Sir Elton chose to play Your Song, saying that Candle in the Wind would be too "macabre".The musician, a close friend of Harry's mum, performed a revised version of Candle in the Wind at Princess Diana's funeral on 6 September 1997.