Latest news with #WhoBelievesInAngels?
Forbes
29-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Elton John Has Charted A New Album Every Week For Almost A Month
Elton John's One Night Only - The Greatest Hits debuts on the U.K.'s Official Album Downloads chart, ... More earning the star his third new album in as many weeks. LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MARCH 23: (EDITORIAL USE ONLY) Elton John performs during the first UK stop on his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" Tour at M&S Bank Arena on March 23, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by) Even after more than half a century in the spotlight, Elton John continues to rack up new wins on charts all around the world. The piano player and singer isn't just sticking around — he's actively debuting projects in lofty positions in many markets, which is an impressive feat for any veteran artist. This week, he adds another title to his growing 2025 streak, as a beloved live recording finds its way onto one tally in the United Kingdom. John's One Night Only - The Greatest Hits arrives on the Official Album Downloads chart this week. The live set, which highlights some of his best-loved songs, opens at No. 62. That means the project was one of the most downloaded titles in the U.K. this frame – and for the first time! The new arrival extends a remarkable run for John on the U.K. charts. This marks the third consecutive week in which the superstar has landed at least one new entry on an album tally in the country. Three frames ago, he and Brandi Carlile shared Who Believes In Angels?, a joint effort that immediately stormed to No. 1 on every roster it appeared on — and it's still performing exceptionally well. Last week, John joined forces with Ry Cooder for Live From the Rainbow Theatre, a special release shared for Record Store Day. While that project has already fallen off the rankings — a typical outcome for Record Store Day exclusives — after just a few days of selling very well. Unlike Who Believes In Angels? and Live From the Rainbow Theatre, One Night Only isn't a new offering. The live album originally dropped in 2000 and is now nearing its twenty-fifth anniversary, which it will reach in a few months. When it was first released, the collection became another sizable success for John in the country. It peaked at No. 7 on the Official Albums chart, and it's already been certified platinum in John's home nation. John's chart success at the moment in the U.K. isn't limited to just One Night Only. Two additional collections from the legend continue to sell and stream as well. Who Believes In Angels? remains inside the top 10 on five different rosters, and it even manages to sit at No. 2 on several of them, barely missing out on yet another frame at No. 1. Meanwhile, Diamonds, John's perennial greatest hits package, enjoys a big rebound on the Official Albums chart. The set jumps from No. 16 to No. 9, claiming another turn inside the top 10. Diamonds is also still present on two other lists, and it even manages to reenter the downloads-only tally, where John now fills three spaces.
Daily Mirror
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Elton John's heartbreaking admission as he reveals he wants to 'die a natural death'
Elton John has made no secret of his addiction battle, and the devastating impact drugs had on his life - but it was during his darkest days that he made a heartbreaking admission Singer Elton John has candidly confessed his desire to "die a natural death" following his harrowing struggle with addiction. The iconic Crocodile Rock singer battled addictions to "drugs, alcohol, food and sex" during his bleakest periods. In 1990, he took the brave step of seeking help, checking into a treatment facility. In his revealing 2019 autobiography Me, Sir Elton, now aged 78, recounted the poignant letter he wrote to cocaine while undergoing treatment at the Lutheran Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. He wrote: "You have been my w***e. You have kept me from any sort of spirituality and you have kept me from finding out who I really am." His words continued with a firm rejection of his past life: "I don't want you and I to share the same grave. I want to die a natural death when I go, at peace with myself. I want to live the rest of my life being honest and facing the consequences rather than hiding behind my celebrity status." He reflected on his long-term relationship with the drug, saying: "I feel as though, after sixteen years with you, I was dead anyway.", reports the Express. At that time, Elton was romantically involved with Hugh Williams. The couple met in the eighties and together spiralled into drug abuse. However, a turning point came when Hugh decided to quit their destructive lifestyle and entered rehab, which eventually inspired Elton to follow suit. Yet, making such a life-altering choice wasn't straightforward for Elton, as he disclosed to the Daily Mail: "I went ballistic, screaming, shouting, saying the most hurtful things I could think of. Afterwards, I holed up alone in a rented house in London for two weeks, snorting cocaine and drinking whisky." Elton eventually came to the realisation that he required assistance and, though the initial days in rehab were "tough", he managed to pick up some basic life skills like operating a washing machine and tidying up his own room—tasks he hadn't done for decades due to having staff to do them. After a six-week stint in a treatment facility, Elton now has a strong aversion to being around anyone under the influence of drugs. He confessed: "I just leave – because, quite frankly, it's a drug that makes people act like a*******s. I wish I'd realised that 45 years ago." Elton recently opened up about a series of health challenges that sparked concern among fans around the world. It left him contemplating his own mortality. The music icon appeared on The Graham Norton Show in February alongside singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile to promote their track, Who Believes In Angels? Elton used the time to speak about how the songwriting process for another project unexpectedly hit home, forcing him to think about his future. He admitted that when he worked on a song called When This Whole World Is Done With Me, written by longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin, he was overcome with emotion. He said: "I get to the chorus, and I find that it's about my death, my demise. And as a 76 year old man, which I was at that time, and having children and having a husband, mortality, and you think about, 'How long have I got? How long? I hope I've got, much longer than maybe I've got.' "And so by the time I got to the chorus and suddenly realised that I started singing it (and) I lost it for 45 minutes. It was a very, very heavy moment for me. After 45 minutes of being consoled, I was okay, but I recorded the next day... when you're singing about being washed out to sea and the end of your life, it took me by surprise."
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elton John and Brandi Carlile Unite to Raise $1 Million to Offset Trump Cuts in HIV/AIDS Relief Funding
The Elton John AIDS Foundation and Brandi Carlile's Looking Out Foundation announced an initiative — the 'Who Believes In Angels?' Campaign — to offset recent cuts to HIV/AIDS relief funding by the Trump Administration. 'Without prompt action, decades of progress in the global fight against HIV could be reversed, creating a global health crisis that we have both the power and the tools to prevent,' said Elton John, founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 'Our mission is more important than ever – we refuse to leave anyone behind – and I'm so fortunate that Brandi is not only a wonderful collaborator and artist, but a dear friend who shares my vision of a world where HIV care is prioritized and protected.' More from Variety Sundance Festival Favorite Doc 'Come See Me in the Good Light' Lands at Apple TV+ Madonna and Elton John Finally End Their Feud, Decades After He Slammed Her for Lip-Syncing: 'Forgiveness Is a Powerful Tool' Elton John and Brandi Carlile on Reinventing the Collaborative Album With 'Who Believes in Angels?': 'We Couldn't Do Steve and Eydie - We Had to Go In Hell-for-Leather' The partnership, named after the recent collaborative album by the two artists, unites their foundatins and communities to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation's work and its Rocket Response Fund. This emergency initiative will help Elton John AIDS Foundation's partners maintain essential services following significant cuts in funding due to the termination of USAID support. The Rocket Response Fund will direct resources to reopen clinics, restore access to essential medications, and maintain prevention services, according to the announcement. Donations to the campaign can be made here via the Looking Out Foundation. International funding has been critical to reducing new HIV transmissions and deaths worldwide. However, many countries in addition to the U.S. are now considering cuts to aid. Recent projections from The Lancet HIV, based on data from 26 countries, estimate that up to 10.8 million additional HIV cases and 2.9 million HIV-related deaths could occur by 2030 if international support declines. 'It was a lifelong dream come true for me to come together with my hero and friend Elton John to make our album 'Who Believes in Angels?,' and now, we're excited to announce that our foundations are also partnering to make our music mean even more,' said Carlile, founder of the Looking Out Foundation. 'Elton's activism and work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation was what led me to Elton before I even heard a note of his music. It's an incredible honor to launch this partnership and raise funds for the life-saving work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Rocket Response Fund at a time when support is needed the most.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Elton John and Brandi Carlile Unite to Raise $1 Million to Offset Trump Cuts in HIV/AIDS Relief Funding
The Elton John AIDS Foundation and Brandi Carlile's Looking Out Foundation announced an initiative — the 'Who Believes In Angels?' Campaign — to offset recent cuts to HIV/AIDS relief funding by the Trump Administration. 'Without prompt action, decades of progress in the global fight against HIV could be reversed, creating a global health crisis that we have both the power and the tools to prevent,' said Elton John, founder of the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 'Our mission is more important than ever – we refuse to leave anyone behind – and I'm so fortunate that Brandi is not only a wonderful collaborator and artist, but a dear friend who shares my vision of a world where HIV care is prioritized and protected.' More from Variety Sundance Festival Favorite Doc 'Come See Me in the Good Light' Lands at Apple TV+ Madonna and Elton John Finally End Their Feud, Decades After He Slammed Her for Lip-Syncing: 'Forgiveness Is a Powerful Tool' Elton John and Brandi Carlile on Reinventing the Collaborative Album With 'Who Believes in Angels?': 'We Couldn't Do Steve and Eydie - We Had to Go In Hell-for-Leather' The partnership, named after the recent collaborative album by the two artists, unites their foundatins and communities to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation's work and its Rocket Response Fund. This emergency initiative will help Elton John AIDS Foundation's partners maintain essential services following significant cuts in funding due to the termination of USAID support. The Rocket Response Fund will direct resources to reopen clinics, restore access to essential medications, and maintain prevention services, according to the announcement. Donations to the campaign can be made here via the Looking Out Foundation. International funding has been critical to reducing new HIV transmissions and deaths worldwide. However, many countries in addition to the U.S. are now considering cuts to aid. Recent projections from The Lancet HIV, based on data from 26 countries, estimate that up to 10.8 million additional HIV cases and 2.9 million HIV-related deaths could occur by 2030 if international support declines. 'It was a lifelong dream come true for me to come together with my hero and friend Elton John to make our album 'Who Believes in Angels?,' and now, we're excited to announce that our foundations are also partnering to make our music mean even more,' said Carlile, founder of the Looking Out Foundation. 'Elton's activism and work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation was what led me to Elton before I even heard a note of his music. It's an incredible honor to launch this partnership and raise funds for the life-saving work of the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Rocket Response Fund at a time when support is needed the most.' Best of Variety New Movies Out Now in Theaters: What to See This Week What's Coming to Disney+ in April 2025 The Best Celebrity Memoirs to Read This Year: From Chelsea Handler to Anthony Hopkins
Arab Times
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Arab Times
Sir Elton John celebrates 'extraordinary' 10th UK No. 1 album
LONDON, April 12: Sir Elton John has achieved an incredible milestone, securing his 10th UK number-one album with 'Who Believes In Angels?, a collaboration with US country star Brandi Carlile. This achievement comes 52 years after the release of his first number-one album. In an interview with the BBC, Sir Elton expressed his surprise and gratitude, stating, "It seems quite extraordinary that my career has gone on so long. It always feels good to top a chart, no matter where it is. And with this album, I'm especially thrilled because I think it's the finest album I've done for a long time." Who Believes In Angels? was written and recorded in just three weeks in late 2023. The album has garnered critical acclaim, with reviews describing it as "a gutsy, flamboyant tearjerker" and a "late-career high." However, the process of creating the album was not without its challenges. A documentary posted on YouTube revealed the behind-the-scenes tension, showing Sir Elton expressing frustration by slamming down his headphones, shouting at collaborators, and even tearing up song lyrics. Reflecting on the difficulties, Sir Elton explained, "I was nervous, irritable... I was recovering from a hip replacement, but also working in a new way — writing live in the studio with Brandi, producer Andrew Watt, and lyricist Bernie Taupin. It was an enormous challenge, getting those four people together." He continued, "The challenge really was at my feet. I was very nervous because I wanted the album to stand a certain way, but you can't always guarantee it will. My nerves and insecurities and doubt led to a few bad behavior moments, which was just about frustrations within myself." Despite the rough start, once the opening track, The Rose of Laura Nyro, was completed, Sir Elton said, "everything fell into place." Within two and a half weeks, the team had recorded and finished 14 songs. The album's release was initially delayed due to an eye infection that left Sir Elton with vision difficulties. In a recent interview with The Times, he revealed that the condition has impacted his ability to watch his sons play rugby. One of the standout tracks from the album, Swing For The Fences, has been widely praised. Written by Brandi Carlile, the song is seen as a powerful call for empowerment and self-expression. "I'm a woman, Elton's a man, and we both have families, and our dreams have come true," Carlile shared with NME. "I wanted to write an anthem for young people out there, inspiring them to embrace a bigger, more elegant, and more fabulous life." Sir Elton echoed this sentiment, telling BBC News, "At the moment when Brandi wrote this lyric, she wanted to say, 'Listen, fight for yourself. Be proud of yourself who you are, never be ashamed of who you are, and you will win through.'" In the UK, Who Believes In Angels? sold over 15,000 copies in its first two days, making it the best-seller of the week on vinyl. Sir Elton now shares the record for the most UK number-one albums with ABBA, Queen, Kylie Minogue, and Michael Jackson. Elton John's UK Number One Albums: Don't Shoot Me I'm Only The Piano Player (1973) Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) Caribou (1974) Elton John's Greatest Hits (1974) Sleeping With The Past (1989) The Very Best Of Elton John (1990) Good Morning To The Night (with Pnau) (2012) Diamonds (2017) The Lockdown Sessions (2021) Who Believes In Angels? (2025) This week's chart also saw the debut of Forever Howlong, the third album by Cambridge indie band Black Country, New Road, which entered at number three. The album, their first without frontman Isaac Wood, marks a shift towards a more soothing, baroque-pop sound. In the singles chart, Alex Warren's Ordinary maintained its number one position for a fourth week, while Chappell Roan's Pink Pony Club held steady at number two. Ed Sheeran made a notable return to the Top 10 with his comeback single, Azizam, which entered at number three. Despite its success, it became the first lead single from an album in Sheeran's career to not debut at number one.
