Elton John has expressed a strong desire to collaborate with a new generation of artists, including Taylor Swift, Charli XCX, and Billie Eilish. Speaking to Variety in a recent interview, the iconic musician highlighted the incredible impact that these artists have had on the music scene, particularly female pop artists. "There are plenty of young singers around. I mean, this has been the summer of the great female singers and songwriters," John noted. He praised Swift, calling her the "biggest phenomenon since The Beatles," and said he'd be happy to sing with her and other emerging musicians, stating, "They've made records that are really good songs, and they brought a lot of joy to the people."
Despite officially retiring from touring after his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour concluded in July 2023, which became the highest-grossing tour of all time, Elton John continues to work on new music. He has hinted at the upcoming release of his 32nd studio album, which his writing partner Bernie Taupin described as "brilliant and contemporary".
On a more personal note, John mentioned that he's been dealing with a severe eye infection that has affected his vision, a challenging setback for the legendary performer as he reflects on his prolific career and prepares for his upcoming documentary, Never Too Late, set for release on Disney+ in December.
The conversation around collaboration comes at a time when John is increasingly recognizing the contributions of younger artists to the music world, underscoring a possible resurgence of creative synergy across generations in the industry.