The collaboration, which ultimately became a celebration of resilience and positivity, almost didn’t happen. On the day Israel invaded Gaza, John was deeply affected by the news and questioned whether it was right to continue recording. “Brandi was staying at her house next door, and I had all the newspapers on the table. I said, ‘Why are we doing an album when all this is going on? It seems inhumane to be recording,’” he recalled.

However, Carlile quickly countered his doubts with a heartfelt response. “We’re going to see the positive,” she told him. “We musicians need to bring the world together. That’s our purpose.” Her words resonated with John, sparking a shift in perspective. She went on to write ‘A Little Light’, a song inspired by her belief in music’s ability to uplift and connect people.

John credited that moment as a turning point for the entire album. “That really turned the album around,” he said. From that point on, the project gained momentum, with a renewed sense of purpose driving the music.

When first envisioning the album, John was adamant that he and Carlile avoid the predictable route of dramatic power ballads. “I didn’t want it to be one line her, one line me,” he explained. “I wanted it to be harmonies. I wanted it to be a proper duet record.”

Carlile echoed that sentiment, sharing how John’s determination to defy expectations inspired their creative process. “We kept the ballads to a minimum because he was like, ‘Everybody will expect us to get together and do power ballads. Let’s do uptempo, positive, uplifting songs,’” she said. “And I was like, ‘Well, that’s kind of an amazing assignment.’”

With longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin contributing lyrics and Andrew Watt handling production, the team hit their stride quickly. John described the energy in the studio as electric. “I didn’t want to go back and make an album I’ve done before. I wanted to push Brandi, and she pushed me, and Andrew pushed both of us to an intense degree. Bernie as well,” he said. “And in the end, we were just roaring. We were recording a track a day, and instant first takes.”

The result is an album that captures both artists’ passion and belief in the power of music. Though the world remains uncertain, ‘Who Believes in Angels?’ stands as a testament to resilience and hope — a reminder that even in the darkest moments, creativity can serve as a unifying force.

The first song known to be included in the album is the single ‘Never Too Late’ which was released as John and Carlile’s first song collaboration last year. The song was used in Elton John’s documentary which came out in the same year and was titled, just like the album, ‘Who Believes in Angels’. The song peaked at number 47 and only spent a week on UK charts.

About the record, John said: “This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life. 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.”

Carlile joined in commenting on the announcement, and said: “I’m still reeling from the fact that I got to do it. 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.”

Here are all the tracks included in the upcoming release:

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

To celebrate and promote the album, a special show was also announced: Carlile and John will be gracing the London Palladium Stage in Central London for a one night only special set to take place on March 26, 2025, only a couple of weeks before the release of the album. For a chance to access tickets, fans are encouraged to pre-order the album here.

John and Carlile have also created a special video for fans which narrates and illustrates how the album was born and created.