Although Sir Elton John has retired from touring, he’s not slowing down when it comes to making music. In a recent interview with Variety, the iconic artist revealed that he’s still in the studio and itching to collaborate with some of today’s hottest pop stars. And it seems like his focus is on some of the most influential female artists in the game right now.
“There are plenty of young singers around. I mean, this has been the summer of the great female singers and songwriters. Sabrina Carpenter, Billie Eilish, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, Charli XCX and Gracie Abrams — they’ve just ruled it,” Elton shared. “They’ve made records that are really good songs, and they brought a lot of joy to the people. And the songs are really good songs, so I’m happy to sing with any of those people.”
Among those names, he had particularly high praise for Taylor Swift, calling her the biggest music phenomenon since The Beatles. When asked about a possible duet with the Midnights singer, he didn’t hold back:“She’s a great songwriter, she’s a great artist and she’s a phenomenon. I’ve never seen a phenomenon like that since the Beatles, and she works her ass off, so good luck. Good luck to her.”
Elton, known for his ability to seamlessly collaborate with a wide range of musicians, reflected on his 2021 album The Lockdown Sessions, where he worked with a variety of artists. He recalled how it took him back to his early days: “I thought, ‘I’m becoming a session musician again like I was 54 years ago and it feels good.’ I had no restrictions, and I actually loved playing on other people’s records. It was different sorts of music, and music and artists that I loved, so I was in my element. It was like Back To The Future.”
Even though his touring days are over, Elton is still making moves. His Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour became the highest-grossing tour ever by the time it wrapped in Stockholm in 2023, earning over $900 million. Since then, the record has been surpassed by Taylor Swift and Coldplay’s current world tours, but the legacy of Elton’s journey remains.
Aside from new music, Elton John has a documentary Never Too Late hitting Disney+ this December, offering fans a behind-the-scenes look at his final U.S. stadium show and reflections on his 50-year career. He’s also been outspoken politically, formally endorsing Labour leader Keir Starmer and joining Joe Biden at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in June.
At 34 years sober, Elton John’s passion for life, music, and activism shows no signs of slowing down.
Photo: Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF
