The Chase's Jenny Ryan gushes over Strictly judge after Elton John music video discovery

It’s Friday, Friday, gotta get down on Friday — especially when it’s New Music Friday! We’re breaking down this week’s best new tracks to keep on your radar.

Britney Spears has released her first new music since the end of her conservatorship - with the pop star exclaiming that "it's pretty damn cool" and "overwhelming" to be singing again - and with global music industry superpower Sir Elton John. The single - Hold Me Closer - is the 40-year-old American pop star's first single in six years and is a mash-up remix of some of Sir Elton's songs. The much anticipated duet mixes his 1971 hit Tiny Dancer with his 1992 song The One, while parts of Don't Go Breaking My Heart from 1976 also feature in the track.

Elton John has revealed that Britney Spears had "a lot of fear" about returning to the music industry with their Hold Me Closer duet. Hold Me Closer, the singer's first song in six years, is a dance track which features a mash-up of Elton's 1971 hit Tiny Dancer and 1992 song The One accompanied by Britney's new vocals, which were recorded in July. The duet, which was released on Friday, also marks Britney's first new music since she was freed from her 13-year conservatorship in November, after which she declared she had no intention of resuming her pop career.

A crowning moment for the princess of pop. Britney Spears teamed up with Elton John for a duet inspired by “Tiny Dancer,” her first release since the end of her conservatorship.

Britney Spears and Elton John have released their much anticipated single together – ‘Hold Me Closer’ – a rework of John’s 1971 song ‘Tiny Dancer’.In a statement, Spears says: “I was so honoured when the incredible Sir Elton John asked me to join him on one his most iconic songs. We are so excited for the fans to hear it! Thank you, Elton, for having me! I am so grateful that I got the opportunity to work with you and your legendary mind”.Speaking to The Guardian about the recording, John says: “She sang fantastically.

Sir Elton John and Britney Spears have released their new track Hold Me Closer today — marking the first music release Britney has had in six years. Hold Me Closer remixes Elton’s 1971 classic Tiny Dancer with his 1976 hit The One, transforming the track into a modernised dance anthem perfectly saluting the summer.The song shows off impressive vocals from Britney, 40, singing alongside Elton, 75. Britney secretly returned to a recording studio in LA in July shortly after her wedding with Sam Asghari, where she laid down her vocals for the song, after being convinced by fan Elton to join him on the track, created by himself and music producer Andrew Watt.

Britney Spears did it again — put out hit music, that is. For the first time since her conservatorship was terminated, the singer has released a new single: «Hold Me Closer,» a collaboration with fellow music icon Elton John. Their duet is an update of John's beloved 1972 hit, «Tiny Dancer.»A week ago, the stars' cover art for the remix debuted, featuring photos of the two as kids.

Elton John has recalled how he helped Britney Spears overcome her “fear” of returning with new music following a six-year hiatus.The pair have teamed up for the new single ‘Hold Me Closer’, a reimagining of John’s 1971 classic track ‘Tiny Dancer’. Arriving today (August 26), it marks the first material from Spears since her 2016 album ‘Glory’ (an outtake from that record, ‘Swimming In The Stars’, came out in late 2020).Writing on Twitter yesterday (August 25), the pop star – whose controversial 13-year conservatorship was terminated last November – said she felt “kinda overwhelmed” as she prepared to make her musical comeback.

Elizabeth Wagmeister Senior CorrespondentFree Britney, at last! Britney Spears’ fans around the world are praising the pop star’s return to music after she dropped her new single with Elton John.Spears collaborated with John on “Hold Me Closer,” a new spin on his hit song “Tiny Dancer.” The single marks the first music to come from Spears since her conservatorship was terminated in November 2021.Throughout the conservatorship, Spears recorded music, went on tour and held a Las Vegas residency, but testified last summer that she was forced to work against her will throughout the 13-year court-ordered arrangement.Spears’ legal battle continues, as the singer fights against her father, Jamie Spears, who oversaw her conservatorship, and her former business manager, Tri Star Sports & Entertainment Group. Spears claims that her father and Tri Star took advantage of her finances throughout the conservatorship and has made damning allegations about their alleged behavior towards her, which she has categorized as “conservatorship abuse.” The judge recently sided with the singer, ordering that her father must sit for a deposition this month, and ruling that she would not be deposed.

Britney Spears' highly-anticipated collaboration with music icon Elton John, entitled Hold Me Closer, was released to the public on Thursday night.The track is an updated version of Elton's 1971 hit Tiny Dancer, and marks the first new music from the Toxic singer, 40, since the release of the deluxe version of her 2016 album Glory, which debuted in 2020.To coincide with the release, Elton, 75, dished to The Guardian about what it was like working with the singer on her first musical endeavor post-conservatorship. It's here! Britney Spears' highly-anticipated collaboration with music icon Elton John, entitled Hold Me Closer, was released to the public on Thursday night Elton revealed that he'd made a point of keeping up with Spears' battle against her nearly 14 year conservatorship, which was terminated last November.  'She hadn't done anything for so long.

still standing after years of struggles — on “Hold Me Closer,” her first newly recorded single since 2016.The cross-generational collaboration between 40-year-old Spears and the 75-year-old Rocket Man — which dropped from the dream-duet heavens on Friday morning — is a radical reworking of John’s 1971 classic “Tiny Dancer.” Indeed, it’s such an extreme makeover that they gave the song it’s own new name taken from the original’s chorus. All together now, “Hold me closer, tiny dancer!”While “Tiny Dancer” was an epic ballad that took your inner ballerina pirouetting across the keys in a fanciful flight, “Hold Me Closer” goes twirling directly under the disco ball with some thumping beats but also a light airiness that captures some of the graceful beauty of the original. Like John’s recent hit with Dua Lipa — “Cold Heart (Pnau remix),” which mashed up “Rocket Man” with a few of his other songs — “Hold Me Closer,” produced by Andrew Watt and Cirkut, also features elements of Elton’s “The One” and “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.”And while their digitally altered voices sometimes blend into one another where you can hardly tell the difference, it’s great to hear the moments when Spears’ distinctive, much-missed chirp stands out.And after the its initial futuristic electro-whirl, “Hold Me Closer” brings you back down to earth with John’s piano work at the end.The beginnings of this collaboration go all the way back to 2015, when Spears professed her love for “Tiny Dancer” in a tweet.

Britney Spears‘ highly-anticipated return to the music world has finally arrived!

Thania Garcia Brintey Spears and Elton John have released “Hold Me Closer,” a reimagined duet of the piano man’s immortal tune, “Tiny Dancer.” The song is Spears’ first release since the termination of her conservatorship in November of 2021 and her first new music release in six years.While the chorus is, of course, unmistakable, the song has been completely overhauled into a breezy dance-pop song, with Spears and John duetting gently on the verses and chorus and John adding trademark piano flourishes throughout. It’s an ideal follow-up to his similar reinvention on “Cold Cold Heart” with Dua Lipa, released last summer and featured on his “Lockdown Sessions” duets album, which essentially mashed up his songs “Sacrifice” and “Rocket Man.”  

Jonathan Cohen The prospect of a new version of Elton John’s “Tiny Dancer” with vocals from Britney Spears has sent the music world into a tizzy for weeks, particularly since Spears has not released fresh music in six years amid the knockdown, drag-out battle over her conservatorship. Luckily, “Hold Me Closer,” produced by Andrew Watt and Cirkut and finally due out at midnight ET, is an unabashed dance-floor celebration of good vibes much in the vein of John’s surprise smash 2021 collaboration with Dua Lipa, “Cold Heart,” which was built on elements of his past hits such as “Rocket Man.” John first worked with former Grammy producer of the year Watt while making a guest appearance on the 2020 Watt-produced Ozzy Osbourne album “Ordinary Man,” which led to Watt producing John’s “Cold Heart”-featuring “The Lockdown Sessions” album last year. “The song is still in the 20s on the global top 50, and it has been over a year,” Watt (pictured above) tells Variety of “Cold Heart.” “It really resonated with people, because the world is so serious right now. It was a way to scream an Elton John song while you’re out at a nightclub and also feel Dua’s energy. Elton wanted to do a follow-up to that song. Why wouldn’t he? We thought we’d try something with ‘Tiny Dancer,’ so they sent me the original stems.”

Elton John says he was so “excited” to work with Britney Spears on their new duet.

Sir Rod Stewart has taken another cheeky dig at his long-time pal Sir Elton John by doing an impersonation of him on stage. The 77-year-old ‘Maggie May’ singer stuck on a spangly pink jacket and wacky sparkling sunglasses more suited to Elton’s wardrobe, stuck out his front teeth and mimed playing the piano. He shared the moment as a meme to his 1.

Britney Spears is focusing on her own bliss now. How does she plan to do that? By getting off Instagram once again.

Rod Stewart appeared to reignite his feud with longtime frenemy Sir Elton John after he mocked the Rocket Man singer on stage before issuing an apology.Stewart, 77, poked fun at his fellow pop legend at a concert this week when he mimicked playing the piano wearing a pair of very Elton John-esque round sunglasses.Sharing the moment on Instagram, Stewart joked: "Still love you, Elt. Rod xxx."READ NEXT: Britney Spears' music comeback confirmed as Elton John announces major collabRod donned a pair of silver sunglasses, stuck his teeth out and mimicked the Tiny Dancer musician.In the clip and photo, Stewart is wearing a sequined jacket that is highly reminiscent of John's signature style.Fans were quick to react to the controversial clip, with one gushing: " Omg im going mental laughing Rod so cool."Another said: “Another added: "Hmm wonder if Elt will have a response lol."The pop legends have been embroiled in a feud for decades and have famously traded jibes and barbs with each other for more than half a century.

The Chase has caused a stir online thanks to their strange fashion accessory.The Chase was back on our screens tonight giving four contestants the chance to go up against The Chaser and try to take home a cash prize.As contestant Jenny joined the quiz team panel to go up against genius Chaser Mark Labbett, fans couldn’t help but notice her very unusual necklace.Jenny, English Literature student from Chichester, appeared to wearing a necklace that featured a large typewriter on it – leaving fans baffled.“Does she have a “ typewriter” necklace?” asked one viewer.“Fantastic necklace,” said a second.A third added: “Amazing typewriter necklace on The Chase.”While a fourth quipped: “Jenny’s cheating - that’s a memory card around her neck.”This is a live TV story and is being constantly updated.