Elton John and Brandi Carlile unveil new duet

Elton John and Brandi Carlile have unveiled their new original song Never Too Late, from the forthcoming Disney+ documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. 

Never Too Late, co-written by Elton John and Brandi Carlile in the summer of 2023, came about after Brandi watched an unfinished and as-yet-untitled early cut of the film. It inspired her to start writing a new song in the third person, taking influence and guidance from Bernie Taupin in the way his lyrics have perfectly channelled Elton’s voice and journey over the years.

Upon hearing the finished track, filmmakers David Furnish and R.J. Cutler  adopted the lyric as the film’s title and the closing credits music.

Watch the video below:

Never Too Late

Brandi says, “I found the early cut of the documentary that went on to become Elton John: Never Too Late so moving. It was really amazing to see historic footage of Elton and the trajectory of his life. But as fantastic and as beautiful as everything was that we were all witnessing as fans, his life was also pretty lonely and difficult at times.

“I thought that the documentary illustrated a really important sentiment, because he might not have ever found his serenity and his peace, but he did find it, and he found it later in life. And it is never too late – too late to find the love of your life, or to start a family, or to change your mind about anything.”

Elton says, ‘“When Brandi told me she was so inspired by the early cut of the documentary that she wanted us to to co-write a new song for it, I was thrilled. I’ve known for a long time how great she was but still, reading her lyrics and co-writing with her on the music was deeply moving.  Especially given how personal it is to see, seeing my life on the screen, she just perfectly captured the essence of the documentary and why I stopped touring to spend more time with my family.

“I’m constantly astonished by her craft, she can channel my voice in a way only Bernie has managed to do before. I know Bernie helped guide Brandi on that. The standard of her musicianship, her songwriting, her passion for what she does are sensational. She truly is one of the greatest there is.”

Intimate & Inspiring

Elton John: Never Too Late comes to Disney+ on 13 December, and follows Elton as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in an emotionally charged, intimate and inspiring full-circle journey.

It is produced and co-written by multiple GRAMMY winner Andrew Watt. Like Brandi, Watt also has a long, storied history with Elton and produced six tracks on Elton’s chart topping album The Lockdown Sessions and Hold Me Closer, Elton’s collaborative global hit single with Britney Spears.

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