Elton John and Brandi Carlile talk ‘ITV special’

The broadcaster is to air an evening with the pair later this month…

The new primetime concert special will feature live performances, captivating stories about the pair’s careers and their enduring friendship, plus an intimate look at their new collaborative album, hosted by Dan Levy.

Filmed at The London Palladium and accompanied by a live band, Elton John and Brandi Carlile perform songs from their new album, ‘Who Believes in Angels?’, played a selection of their individual greatest hits as well as duetting on some iconic tracks, giving the audience a chance to experience their beloved songs as never heard before.

Between these electrifying solo and duo performances, Elton and Brandi also invited the audience to a sit-down conversation on stage, hosted by their close friend Dan Levy, that will pull back the curtain on their 20-year friendship and look into their remarkable lives and journeys. Plus they will take a look at exclusively shot, ‘behind the scenes’ footage from the making of the album. Additionally, throughout the evening, those closest to Elton and Brandi will pay emotional tributes to the artists’ illustrious careers.

What track are you most excited to perform?

Elton: All of them to be honest, because we’ve never played them live! I think the first track we play is ‘Who Believes in Angels?’. We did it in rehearsal and it sounds better than the record. Playing live is different to playing on the record because you can have more than one chance in the studio, when you play live you only have one chance.

Why did London and The Palladium feel like the right place to do this very special show?

Elton: The opportunity to play at such an iconic venue alongside Brandi is what attracted me. It’s a beautiful theatre, a great venue for concerts. I think the intimate size of the audience will be perfect for this and I can’t wait for viewers to watch it at home.

Why did you want Dan Levy to host the show?

Brandi: I just think Dan is just painfully charismatic, I love him, I hang on to his every word and he really gets me and Elton. He gets us together, he gets us separately, he’s important to us – he’s family in a way and he was named after Daniel (Elton’s song) and I think it just feels like the right fit.

You’ve both been very open and fearless about being yourselves and increasingly in a more uncertain world, what advice would you give to your younger selves?

Brandi: I think it’s a hard time to be LGBTQ+ in the world right now, particularly in the country that I live in and I would say that there have been many hard times to be queer and I think that you have to believe that because you’re being authentic, authentically human and authentically you, that this too shall pass.

Elton: I was just going to say that, this too shall pass, I was thinking it when you said it!

Brandi: And Elton and I are proof of that, we have made it through some really hard times in separate generations and we believe in you and have your back.

‘An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile’ on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player on Saturday 19th April at 9pm.