Brandi Carlile and Elton John's Explosive New Album—A Musical Rebirth
Elton John isn’t one to fade into quiet retirement. At 77, after closing the curtains on touring, he’s back with a project that’s anything but safe—a raw, powerful, and emotionally charged album with Brandi Carlile. Their collaboration, Who Believes in Angels? , is already being hailed as Elton’s most authentic and electrifying work in decades. But the road to creating it? Let’s just say it was filled with smashed iPads, torn-up lyrics, and fiery studio sessions.
Sitting at his Los Angeles breakfast table next to Carlile, Elton reflects on the intense journey that brought this album to life. Recovering from a second hip replacement and dealing with failing eyesight, he pushed through exhaustion and pain to make something that truly mattered. “I didn’t want to just do another ‘Elton John’ record,” he admits. “I wanted a challenge.” And Carlile, a Grammy-winning Americana powerhouse, gave him exactly that.
Their process was anything but traditional. No pre-written material, no over-planning—just two artists diving in headfirst. And that’s where the fireworks started. Carlile recalls moments of classic Elton tantrums: “He smashed his iPad. He smashed headphones. My lyrics got torn up and thrown on the ground—he goes, ‘F*** off, Brandi!’” But behind the chaos was an urgency, a hunger to create something real. “It wasn’t me being anxious about other people,” Elton says, “it was me being anxious about me.”
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Despite the clashes, something magical happened. Who Believes in Angels? emerged as a hinge-rattling, Americana-infused rock album, filled with harmonies that stretch beyond simple duets—Elton and Brandi’s voices intertwining in ways that feel both new and timeless. It’s a celebration of raw emotion, fearless storytelling, and the kind of musical risks that only legends take.
And at its heart, this album is about legacy. Inspired by the LGBTQ+ trailblazers who paved the way, it’s a tribute to resilience and reinvention. One particularly emotional moment came when Elton encountered Bernie Taupin’s lyrics for When This Old World Is Done With Me . Sitting at the piano, he started to play—and then, he broke down in tears. Carlile, sitting just behind him, knew what was happening. “He came face to face with his mortality without really being able to say it,” she recalls. “Then, after this huge emotional moment, he looks up and asks, ‘Is it too Lion King ?’” And just like that, the room erupted in laughter.
For Carlile, this project was more than just an album—it was a way to see her childhood hero as a human, not just an icon. For Elton, it was about proving, yet again, that he’s not done pushing boundaries. “Brandi brought me back to life,” he says. Carlile laughs, shaking her head. “I do say no,” she replies, “but I love that you say that.”
With Who Believes in Angels? , Elton John and Brandi Carlile have crafted something truly special—an album that refuses to play it safe, proving that music, at its best, is about taking risks, breaking rules, and, sometimes, smashing a few iPads along the way.
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