Elton John: Last News

Ed Sheeran has written an open letter to the UK government calling for immediate and long-term funding for music education.The letter, who is co-signed by a number of big names including Elton John, Coldplay, Central Cee, Harry Styles, Dave, Stormzy and Robert Plant, urges Keir Starmer to commit £250million towards music education.Having launched the Ed Sheeran Foundation in January, the initiative highlights five areas that the government can focus on to improve standards: music funding in schools, training for music teachers, funding for grassroots venues and spaces, music apprenticeships and a diverse music curriculum.The letter contains signatures from hundreds of voices across the music industry, civil society and the education sector, and argues for a cross-departmental taskforce at government level, so that music education does not “fall through the cracks”.“Dear Sir Keir Starmer, we are writing collectively as artists, civil society and industry, appealing to your personal belief in music and the promise of opportunity for all under Labour,” the letter begins.It goes on to argue that the music industry brings £7.6billion into the UK economy each year, but says “the next generation is not there to take the reins” as many young people cannot afford to learn an instrument.“Last year was the first in over 20 years without a UK global top 10 single or album in the charts,” the letter continues. “The time to act is now.

Elton John and Brandi Carlile will be the joint musical guests on an upcoming episode of Saturday Night Live hosted by Jack Black.The pair are preparing to release their collaborative album ‘Who Believes In Angels?’ on April 4, and the following day they will appear on the NBC show to perform tracks from the record.It will be John’s fourth time on SNL, after musical performances in 1981 and 1992 and a hosting/performing double stint in 2011. Black, meanwhile, last hosted in 2005 and is appearing as part of the promotion for his upcoming film A Minecraft Movie.SNL have also announced two further line-ups, with Oscar-winning Anora star Mikey Madison set to host on March 29 alongside musical guest Morgan Wallen.

Elton John has said talent shows like The X Factor and American Idol are “the worst” for aspiring artists, and has instead advised them to “go and play in a pub”.Ahead of the release of ‘Who Believes In Angels?’, the upcoming collaborative album he has made with Brandi Carlile, the two musicians sat down with Rolling Stone to discuss the record, and how best to nurture emerging talent.“Just keep trying to play live,” Elton advised. “That’s the way you improve as a musician and songwriter. It doesn’t matter if you’re playing to 40 people.

Gene line-up have reunited and announced their first live show in over 20 years. Read NME‘s interview with frontman Martin Rossiter below, where he discusses what to expect from the “spectacular” gig.Rossiter, drummer Matt James, guitarist Steve Mason and bassist Kevin Miles are set to celebrate the 30th anniversary of their debut album ‘Olympian’ with a comeback concert at the Eventim Apollo in London on October 4.It will be their first show since they last played in the capital at the now-defunct London Astoria on December 16, 2004.

Yungblud has said that his upcoming album has taken inspiration from Led Zeppelin and Elton John, and looks to capture a cinematic feel.It comes as the singer – real name Dominic Harrison – recently shared his first new music of 2025 in the form of a single titled ‘Hello Heaven, Hello’. It marked his first track since 2024’s ‘Breakdown’ and a teaser of what will be his first LP since 2022’s self-titled album.At time of writing, little is known about the upcoming album, although Yungblud has been dropping numerous hints in recent months.

The hosts and musical guests for the next three episodes of Saturday Night Live have been revealed and the lineup includes a recent Oscar winner.

Selome Hailu Mikey Madison, Jack Black and Jon Hamm will be the next hosts of “Saturday Night Live,” with Morgan Wallen; Elton John and Brandi Carlile; and Lizzo serving as musical guests. March 29 will mark Madison’s “SNL,” debut fresh off her “Anora” best actress win at the Oscars. Besides playing the title role in Sean Baker’s awards-sweeping film, her prominent credits include 2022’s “Scream,” 2019’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” and the series “Better Things,” which ran on FX from 2016 to 2022.

SNL is returning from a two week hiatus and it has some big hosts and musical guests set.

Jem Aswad Executive Editor, Music Tom Corson, co-chairman and COO of Warner Records, will be honored by the cancer research and treatment organization City of Hope with its annual Spirit of Life Award. For more than 50 years, the music industry has united around the Spirit of Life campaign, raising nearly $170 million to support City of Hope’s lifesaving research and care.

Elton John and Brandi Carlile‘s upcoming one-off concert at the London Palladium later this month is being filmed for a CBS special – find out more below.To celebrate the pair’s upcoming record ‘Who Believes In Angels?’, Carlile and Sir Elton will be playing a special, one-off show at The London Palladium on March 26 and access to tickets will be available exclusively to those who pre-order the album.Now, it has been revealed per a Billboard report that the show is being filmed for a CBS special that is due to air on the network on April 6, and will also stream concurrently on Paramount+.Billboard also reports that the CBS special will include exclusive interviews with the pair, as well as “those closest” to Elton John and Brandi Carlile.For the concert, Elton John and Brandi Carlile are due to play a selection of songs from their joint album, as well as several individual classics. They are also expected to “pull back the curtain on their 20-year friendship, the journey behind their latest collaboration and share intimate footage from their process”.‘Who Believes In Angels?’ is set for release on April 4 via Island EMI and includes collaborations from Andrew Watt and John’s longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin.It comes as a follow-up to the legendary artist’s 2021 album, ‘The Lockdown Sessions’, and also includes the 2025 Oscar-nominated song ‘Never Too Late’, which was created for the Disney+ documentary of the same name.

CBS will air An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile, an hourlong primetime concert special, on Sunday, April 6 at 8 pm. The special, which will feature live performances, stories about the duo’s longtime friendship and a look at their new joint album, will be broadcast on the CBS network and will stream on Paramount+.

Chris Willman Senior Music Writer and Chief Music Critic An upcoming concert by Elton John and Brandi Carlile at the London Palladium will be filmed as the basis for a prime-time CBS special, “An Evening With Elton John and Brandi Carlile,” set to air on the network and via Paramount+ on April 6. On top of the concert footage, which will be shot at the U.K.

Thania Garcia The iHeartRadio Music Awards on Monday night were a starry affair that honored both new and veteran music stars. Mariah Carey and Lady Gaga were both present to receive special awards recognizing their decades-long careers in entertainment, while SZA took home the R&B artist of the year award for a third year. Benson Boone’s “Beautiful Things” was also named song of the year.

Mariah Carey takes the stage to accept her award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards held at Dolby Theatre on Monday (March 17) in Hollywood.

Lady Gaga was recognized with the Innovator Award at the 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards and delivered a powerful message.

The 2025 iHeartRadio Music Awards will celebrate the best in music with a live event on March 17 at the Dolby Theater in Hollywood.

Blur‘s Graham Coxon has reflected on the “flipping bizarre” moment Robbie Williams and Danny Dyer covered ‘Parklife’ last year.Back in July, the Marching Power actor teamed up with Williams for the surprise collaboration at his headline set at BST Hyde Park, with Dyer performing the Cockney spoken-word parts, as originally done by Quadrophenia actor Phil Daniels.The Eastenders actor later explained he was approached by Williams to perform the Blur classic during a recent Soccer Aid event. “I said yes,” he remembered at the time, “and then I thought, ‘Oh, now I’ve got to do it.’“I love the tune,” he added. “I love Robbie and we done it.

Donny Osmond had some competition from his own family to win over his wife of 47 years, Debbie.“She dated my brother, and I stole her from my brother,” Osmond told Fox News Digital. “That’s a true story.”He explained, “I was dating a girl named Tammy. And [my brother] Jay took Debbie out.

Spinal Tap II film.The film is a follow-up to the 1984 beloved mockumentary This Is Spinal Tap – based on rock band Spinal Tap, and it has been considered to be one of the greatest comedy films of all time. It stars Christopher Guest, Michael McKean and Harry Shearer portraying the hapless heavy metal trio, all of whom are set to return to the second film.Spinal Tap II: The End Continues is expected to come out on September 12 this year in the US, with a UK premiere yet to be announced.

Rebecca Rubin Senior Film and Media Reporter “Spinal Tap II: The End Continues,” a sequel to the 1984 music mockumentary “This Is Spinal Tap,” will rock and roll into theaters this fall. Bleecker Street has acquired U.S. rights to the rock comedy follow-up and set a theatrical release on Sept.

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.