Elton John’s latest album-making experience was filled with deep emotions, especially as he reflected on his own mortality. During a candid conversation with Brandi Carlile on the SmartLess podcast, the 78-year-old music legend shared the vulnerable moments he experienced while creating their upcoming album, Who Believes in Angels?
The emotional weight of the project became clear when John discussed a particular track titled “When This Old World Is Done with Me,” which addresses the theme of aging and death. Recalling the moment he received Bernie Taupin’s lyrics, John said, “It’s about my death,” adding that when he reached the chorus, he was overcome with emotion.
“When you get to my age, which is near 100, you think, ‘How much time have I got left?’” he shared. “And you’ve got children, you’ve got a wonderful husband—you just think about mortality.”
This moment of reflection hit John hard, and he openly admitted that he broke down in tears for 45 minutes during the recording session. “It’s all on film,” he revealed. “I want everybody to see it, because it’s really human, like, deeply flawed and embarrassing. The kind of s— that you do when you forget there’s a camera on is what’s really interesting,” Carlile added, describing the raw and intimate moments captured during the album’s creation.
Carlile, who witnessed John’s emotional breakdown, recalled sitting behind him as he worked on the melody for the song. “I was recording him on the melody of this song because I thought, ‘Okay, well I want to remember this melody so that in case he moves on to another one, he can remember how good it was,’” Carlile explained. She noted how John’s voice began to shake as he reached the chorus, and she knew he was struggling emotionally.
Despite the emotional challenges, John expressed how Carlile’s presence and encouragement helped him push through. “She came over and said, ‘Don’t worry. You’ve got at least another six months,’” he laughed.
In a broader reflection on his career, John shared his gratitude for Carlile’s influence on the project. “I’ve done so much in my life. And there’s so much more to do. And she’s inspired me to go ahead with this record, and I think this is the best record I’ve made in forty years,” he said.
Who Believes in Angels? is set to release on April 4, with the accompanying short film, Stories from the Edge of Creation, premiering the same day at 92NY in New York City.
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