Sir Elton John opened up about a heartbreaking fear (Image: GETTY)
spoke openly about facing his mortality in a candid interview, which left him weeping over a piano.
The I’m Still Standing hitmaker addressed a heartbreaking moment behind the scenes while recording his duet album with Brandi Carlile.
It comes after the 77-year-old announced his retirement in 2023 and shared that his eyesight has worsened recently.
While recording their song When This Old World Is Done With Me, singer Brandi, 43, recalled the moment everything became overwhelming for Elton.
He had realised the song was about the end of his life, something only a friend of six decades could have written. “The glasses came off, his whole body is crumpled over the piano, he wept,” says Brandi to The Guardian. “I put my arms around him and held him and he didn’t really talk about it.
Elton John and Brandi Carlile worked together on a new project (Image: Getty)
“We’re having this really profound moment where Elton has come face to face with his mortality without really being able to say it.”
Elton recently had the chance to rehearse his own death, filming a scene for Spinal Tap 2 in which he’s killed off in concert in the movie remake.
The legendary performer, along with Sir Paul McCartney, is making a cameo appearance.
“I did kind of hyperventilate,” he admitted, as he opened up on touring. “I said, ‘Jesus, I’m so glad I don’t have to do this any more.'”
Elton John pictured alongside his husband David Furnish (Image: Getty)
But his fellow collaborator, Brandi, differed, adding, “I want to die on stage,” she says.
“I used to say that,” Elton admitted, “but I don’t want to. Well – I can’t. I’ve retired.”
His admission comes following his recent appearance on The Graham Norton Show where the dad-of-two as he said, “I’ve not got long left”.
Elton was joined by Brandi on the show on Friday night (February 8) to promote their new record Who Believes in Angels, set to be released April 4.