an unexpected musical collaboration, legendary artist Sir Elton John and Americana star Brandi Carlile have reportedly recorded an entire album together. Pete Townshend, the 78-year-old guitarist of The Who and a close friend of Elton’s, revealed that the two musicians spent a mere two weeks in Los Angeles crafting this collaborative collection.
The revelation comes at a time when Elton John, 76, has redirected his focus following the conclusion of his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour, signaling a shift in his career trajectory. Pete Townshend, in an interview with Clash, shared insights into Elton’s current mindset, stating, “Elton is so fraught with loss at not knowing what to do next. He’s just gone over to LA to make an album with Brandi Carlile. They made an album together in two weeks. He says it’s one of the best things they’ve ever done.”
The friendship between Elton John and Brandi Carlile is not a recent development. The two artists have a history of collaboration, having previously joined forces on stage during Elton’s final US concert at the Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles in November 2021, where they performed ‘Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.’ Additionally, their musical partnership resulted in the duet ‘Simple Things,’ featured on Elton’s 2021 ‘Lockdown Sessions’ album—a project born out of the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Elton John had previously hinted at the completion of a mysterious project during his songwriting partner Bernie Taupin’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in November. He teased that the LP they had finished together would “surprise” fans, adding an air of anticipation to the upcoming release.
Pete Townshend also provided a glimpse into the enduring camaraderie between him and Elton John, sharing, “He appears on FaceTime every other morning… often when I’m in bed! ‘Hello, it’s Elton!’ He’s great company. And he’s very smart. But he’s also a wonderful musicologist. See, when he attaches onto somebody, he’s sincere about it, I still find myself pretending to like people that I’m not sure that I like because they appear to be unbelievably cool.”
The unexpected collaboration between Sir Elton John and Brandi Carlile is poised to be a significant musical event, leaving fans eager to experience the magic born out of their artistic synergy.
