Just because Elton said he wasn't going to tour again doesn't mean he was going to quit making new music and appearing on TV shows, specials, and award ceremonies.
Saturday night (4/5) the Rocket Man performed two new songs alongside Brandi Carlile from their new collaborative LP, Who Believes in Angels, which dropped that Friday.
The pair, with an all star band performed the title track and the rollicking "Little Richard's Bible" to the small studio audience at Rockefeller Center.
It wasn't a live debut for either song as the pair had performed three tunes off the new album last month at the London Palladium for the TV special "An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile" that aired Sunday on CBS.
In that special, as well as on SNL, Elton and Brandi were backed by Graeme Flowers, The Hanseroth Twins, Andrew Ross, SistaStrings, and former Red Hot Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer and current Chili Pepper drummer Chad Smith. Also in the band was Andrew Watt who produced the LP.
“This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life,” John said in statement.
“It has given me a place where I know I can move forward. Who Believes In Angels? feels like going into another era and I’m pushing the door open to come into the future.”
Carlile, who is no slouch herself, expressed how grateful she is to be part of the collab.
“I’m still reeling from the fact that I got to do it,” Carlile, an 11-time Grammy winner said. “I think all ships rise with Elton John’s standards for songwriting, and it was an incredibly challenging and inspiring environment to work in, everybody throwing in ideas, everybody listening to everybody else’s ideas. It felt like a family.”
Many celebrities like Bill Burr and recent Oscar-winner Kieran Culkin were in the audience at Studio 8H to watch the show hosted by Jack Black. Among them was Madonna who has had a rocky relationship with the legendary John.
It's been such a one-sided roller coaster of barbs, jabs, and insults, Madonna posted a photo of herself with the 78-year-old pianist on Instagram proclaiming "We Finally Buried the Hatchet!" to her 19 million followers.
In the caption she wrote how she has loved Elton since she was young and was confused by the shade he would regularly throw her way.
"Over the decades it hurt me to know that someone I admired so much shared his dislike of me publicly as an artist," Madonna wrote. "I didn’t understand it. I was told Elton John was the musical guest on SNL and I decided to go."
Upon seeing Madonna, one of the biggest artists who have championed things John too has lifted up (LGBTQ+ rights, AIDS awareness, outrageous fashion, pushing pop music and culture), he asked immediately for forgiveness, which she blessed him with.
“Forgiveness is a powerful tool," she wrote.
Elton replied to thank her for her kindness through all of his bad behavior.
The drama began in 2002 when Elton declared Madonna’s James Bond theme “Die Another Day” was the “worst Bond tune ever.”
According to Brit, "it hasn't got a tune. James Bond themes are usually very camp, and this one's different."
John continued by saying, "they should have gone for somebody like Lulu and Shirley Bassey, or maybe I'm in that league. I don't think it's the best Madonna record, and I'm a big fan," he said of the Michigander.
His critique didn't seem to influence her one bit. "Die Another Day" is the 30th most-performed song in her catalogue.
She's played it more than "True Blue" or even her first Top 10 hit, "Borderline."
Despite being such a big fan, two years later at the 2004 Q Awards, Elton nailed her again, while he was accepting a songwriting award.
"Madonna, Best fucking Live Act?" he said, mocking her nomination in that category. "Fuck off. Since when has lip-synching been 'live?'"Anyone who lip-syncs in public on stage.... should be shot.”
Taking the high road, as she has continually done with John, Madonna’s publicist replied by saying, “she doesn’t lip-sync—and he’s still on the Christmas card list.”
In 2012 Elton came after her again, this time dissing her MDNA Tour.
On Australian TV in August 2012, he said she's a "nightmare" whose "career is over." He then called her 88-stop world tour a “disaster” and said she looked like a “fairground stripper.”
What could have riled Elton up to say that? Earlier that year while on the red carpet at the Golden Globe, he was asked about Madonna who was in the same category against him. He said she had “no fucking chance” of winning.
Naturally, she won for the song "Masterpiece."
Later when meeting the press, Madonna, said, "I hope he speaks to me for the next couple of years. He's known to get mad at me. So, I don't feel bad."
While in Nice, France, she dedicated "Masterpiece" to Sir Elton.
There Madonna said, “and you know what, I forgive him. Got to start somewhere.”
Who knows, maybe that's where the healing began because here we are more than a decade later and all seems to be well.
While neither Elton nor Madonna are touring right now, Brandi hits the road next month.
First she will be hosting her Mothership Weekend in Florida. In June she will be playing the historic Royal Albert Hall in London, which then kicks off a European tour.
Tickets available on her website.
