"God, it was a challenge": Elton John opens up about upcoming album and how Brandi Carlile gave him a "fresh start"

Elton John recently opened up about his struggles with vision loss and the role Brandi Carlile played in giving him a "fresh start."

For the unversed, Elton John and Brandi Carlile have collaborated on a new album titled Who Believes in Angels?, set to be released on April 4, 2025. Speaking about his experience while recording it, he said:

"God, it was a challenge. But that's what life's all about. If you don't have a challenge at 76, then never give up. Never coast. There are so many artists that coast that don't make new songs."

"They just go around and play their hits, like I did. I didn't wanna do it with this record. I wanted a new start. I want a fresh start.”

The upcoming album marks Carlile's 8th studio album and John's 33rd. She has been a fan of John since she was a kid. In the interview, the singer said that he had always wanted to work with her.

"I know how her voice is, and I knew what she's capable of, and I wanted to push her more." he said.

The legendary musician further revealed that he experienced severe vision issues due to an eye infection in mid-2024, which left him with limited sight in one eye. Here is what we know.

Read more: “I just fell in love with her”: Elton John shares his admiration for Chappell Roan

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Everything we know about Elton John’s eyesight struggles, which left him nearly blind

In a 2024 interview with People magazine, Elton John revealed on Good Morning America that he had lost vision in his right eye due to an eye infection.

“It kind of floored me, and I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything,” he said.

In September 2024, he shared a post on his Instagram, in which he revealed that he had contracted an infection and was currently in the healing stage. He wrote:

“Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye. I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some before sight returns to the impacted eye.”

He added,

“I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks. I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and I am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far.” He concluded.

In a recent interview with CBS News, the 78-year-old singer-songwriter revealed that he got emotional in the studio while recording the final track of his upcoming album with Brandi Carlile. The music legend said that he cried and cried as the song reflected on his mortality.

"Well, I started singing, and I thought the verse was really beautiful. But then I had no idea what was coming. And when I got to the chorus, I realized what was coming, and I just broke down. And I sobbed, and I sobbed, and I sobbed, because it's about my death, basically.” He told the outlet.

“And when you get to my age, and a certain age, you think about mortality, because I wanna spend so much time with my children and David and my friends, that you want every single moment to count. And so, this was a song about I don't want to die. I wanna be with my children. I wanna be with David forever. And so, it really got to me.” He said.

According to a report in People magazine, Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, have been together for more than three decades. They officially tied the knot in 2005 and have two sons, Zachary and Elijah.