Elton John feels ‘grateful’ on 78th birthday despite ‘breaking down in tears’ over his mortality
Elton John has thanked fans for their birthday messages. (Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)
Elton John has thanked fans for their birthday messages. (Bruce Glikas/Getty Images)
Elton John has told fans that he was left feeling “grateful” on his 78th birthday, despite previously “breaking down in tears” over his mortality.
Sir Elton has taken another trip around the sun as he celebrated his 78th birthday. The music legend recently recounted how he “broke down for 45 minutes” while recording a song on his upcoming album, Who Believes In Angels? – a collaboration with musician Brandi Carlile.
He told the SmartLess podcast about the behind the scenes of their upcoming track, “When This Old World Is Done With Me”.
“I wrote a song at the end of the album, and I just get the lyrics, Bernie Taupin’s lyrics called ‘When This Old World Is Done With Me’,” he said. “And so I’m writing the verse, like, ‘Oh, this is really pretty.’ And then I get to the chorus, and of course it’s about my death.
“When you get to my age, which is near 100, you think, ‘How much time have I got left?'” And you’ve got children, you’ve got a wonderful husband, you just think about mortality. So, when I got to the chorus, I just broke down for 45 minutes, and it’s all on film.”
However, on Wednesday (26 March), Sir Elton reflected on his special day in a positive light. “Thank you all for the beautiful birthday wishes,” he began in an Instagram post.
“I spent the day surrounded by friends and family, feeling incredibly loved and grateful. Your messages mean the world to me – thank you for everything, always.”
Who Believes in Angels? was fully written and recorded in just one 20-day session at the Sunset Sound Studio in Los Angeles in 2023. Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s upcoming studio album, featuring 10 tracks, arrives on 4 April.
