Not Just Britney Spears: Famous Duets by Elton John

Britney Spears (40) and Elton John (75) are said to be doing things together. According to “Page Six” the two are said to have secretly recorded a new version of John’s world hit “Tiny Dancer” (1971). It wouldn’t be the first time that the musician has brought a world star into the recording studio. Elton John has also stood at the microphone with these music greats.

One of the most well-known Elton John duets was created in the 1970s. Together with Kiki Dee (75) he recorded the song “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” (1976). The melody came from John, partner Bernie Taupin (72) wrote the text from Barbados. The critics were not enthusiastic about the duet, but the British were. It was John’s first number one hit in the UK Singles Chart. At the world-famous Live Aid concert at London’s Wembley Stadium in 1985, John performed the song with his duet partner Kiki Dee. About 20 years after the first release, he re-recorded the song with RuPaul (61).

Two legends, one song: Elton John was also in the recording studio with Beatles legend John Lennon (1940-1980). Lennon released “Whatever Gets You thru the Night” in 1974, and the song became a huge hit. Elton John contributed to the vocals and piano. The two performed the song at Lennon’s Thanksgiving performance at Madison Square Garden in November 1974. It was one of his last major performances before the former Beatles member was shot dead in 1980.

“Slow Rivers” is the name of the duet that Elton John recorded with Cliff Richard (81). In 1986 the joint work was released as a single. The singers also have something in common: They were both knighted by Queen Elizabeth II (96). Richard received this honor in 1995, and three years later it was John’s turn.

In 1974, Elton John released the song “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me”, which stormed the charts, especially in Canada. A duet version finally followed in 1991. John chose his colleague George Michael (1963-2016) as his partner. The two stood on stage for the first time at the Live Aid concert in 1985 and performed the song together. The new version was very well received – the duet climbed to the top of the charts in France, Great Britain and Switzerland, among others.

Another star in Elton John’s duet partner list: Eric Clapton (77). The pop song “Runaway Train” is featured on John’s album The One, released in 1992. Clapton did most of the vocals and, of course, incorporated some guitar solos.

At the 2001 Grammy Awards, Eminem (49) caused the surprise of the evening. The rapper performed his hit “Stan” live. In the original version, singer Dido (50) can be heard singing the parts, but Elton John suddenly sat at the piano at the award ceremony. The live version was included on Eminem’s 2005 best-of album, Curtain Call: The Hits – it never became a single.

Elton John recorded a song with pop sensation Dua Lipa (26) in 2021. The “Cold Heart” remix features four of John’s older hits and was mixed by Australian electropop duo Pnau. Passages of the songs “Sacrifice”, “Rocket Man”, “Kiss the Bride” and “Where’s the Shoorah?” can be heard in the song. Only Dua Lipa recorded new vocal parts for the track. The song hit like a bomb, reaching number three in the single charts in Germany. “Cold Heart” can be found on John’s album “The Lockdown Sessions”, which was made during the Corona pandemic.

On the album “The Lockdown Sessions” Elton John united the crème de la crème of the music industry. In addition to his hit with Dua Lipa, there are other duets with well-known stars. More than 20 guests can be heard on the record. Including Miley Cyrus (29), Nicki Minaj (39), Charlie Puth (30) and Lil Nas X (23). But older stars like Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder (57), soul legend Stevie Wonder (72) and singer Stevie Nicks (74) also made it onto the album.

Elton John and Ed Sheeran (31) have teamed up for Christmas 2021. Her festive song is titled “Merry Christmas” and was released on December 3rd. The two donated the proceeds of their joint work to charity. The profits went equally to the Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation and the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

These weren’t all of Elton John’s duet partners. The musician has already stood at the microphone together with Little Richard (1932-2020), Chris Rea (71), Paul Young (66), Billy Joel (73) and Ronan Keating (45).