Musical heroes and real-life besties Elton John and Brandi Carlile are taking their friendship to the studio. On Wednesday, John and Carlile announced that they’ll release Who Believes in Angels?, a collaborative album, on April 4, via Interscope Records. The duo also dropped the album’s title track.
“This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life,” John said in a press release. “It has given me a place where I know I can move forward. Who Believes In Angels? feels like going into another era and I’m pushing the door open to come into the future.”
“I have everything I’ve done behind me and it’s been brilliant, amazing. But this is the new start for me,” he added. “As far as I’m concerned, this is the start of my career mark two.”
The pair of musicians started working on the project with Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt in October 2023. “They pushed each other out of their comfort zones to write and record an album completely from scratch in just 20 days,” according to a press release. The result was a mix of songs backed by Chad Smith of Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Pino Palladino of Nine Inch Nails, and Josh Klinghoffer.
“I’m still reeling from the fact that I got to do it,” Carlile said in a statement. “I think all ships rise with Elton John’s standards for songwriting, and it was an incredibly challenging and inspiring environment to work in, everybody throwing in ideas, everybody listening to everybody else’s ideas. It felt like a family.”
The cover art for Who Believes in Angels? shows the pair of stars — John in a golden coat and Carlile in a royal purple suit — in front of a circus-like backdrop and surrounded by dancers. The musicians also released the album’s track list, which includes songs such as “Little Richard’s Bible,” “The River Man,” and “A Little Light.” Who Believes In Angels? will also feature “Never Too Late,” the song they collaborated on for the Elton John: Never Too Late documentary.
Along with the LP announcement, the musicians announced that they will host An Evening With Elton John & Brandi Carlile at the London Palladium on March 26. The pair recently presented an award at the Golden Globes together.
Who Believes in Angels? Track List
1. “The Rose of Laura Nyro”
2. “Little Richard’s Bible”
3. “Swing for the Fences”
4. “Never Too Late”
5. “You Without Me”
6. “Who Believes in Angels?”
7. “The River Man”
8. “A Little Light”
9. “Someone to Belong To”
10. “When This Old World Is Done With Me”
