Elton John & Brandi Carlile | Xmas & Chill

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Episode: Elton John & Brandi Carlile | Xmas & Chill
Release Date: December 18, 2024

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1. Introduction to the Episode

In this festive episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes two illustrious guests: the legendary musician Elton John and the acclaimed singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile. Titled "Xmas & Chill," the episode blends holiday cheer with heartfelt conversations about music, personal growth, and enduring friendships.

2. Stephen Colbert's Christmas Monologue

Colbert kicks off the episode with his signature humor, delving into contemporary Christmas traditions and trends:

• Holiday Meal Shake-Up: Highlighting a recent poll, Colbert jokes about Americans desiring non-traditional Christmas meals, such as burgers, pizza (44%), tacos (38%), and Chinese takeout (34%). He quips, “If we eat burgers on Christmas, what are we gonna eat on the 4th of July?” (01:03).

• Fashion Preferences: With 47% of respondents preferring to spend Christmas day in pajamas, Colbert humorously critiques this trend, suggesting it’s less a celebration and more indicative of “clinical depression” (02:52).

• New Dating Trends: Introducing terms like “snowmanning” and “winter coaching,” Colbert satirizes the complexities of modern holiday relationships, blending wit and wordplay to entertain listeners (03:43).

• Public Domain Popeye: Colbert announces the upcoming entry of Popeye into the public domain in 2025, blending nostalgia with a humorous outlook on copyright laws (19:41).

3. Interview with Elton John

a. Celebrating an EGOT

Colbert warmly welcomes Elton John, celebrating his recent achievement of an EGOT—Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony awards. Elton reflects on the honor, emphasizing his deep appreciation for American culture and the support he's received:
"Becoming an EGOT meant so much to me because the American public have given me so much throughout my career." (13:15)

b. Discussing "Never Too Late" Documentary

The conversation shifts to Elton’s documentary, "Elton John Never Too Late," where he shares personal insights:

• Life Transformation: Elton discusses his journey from early fame and personal struggles to sobriety and finding happiness with his family:
  "Never too late to change your life, to make decisions that will make your life better." (15:28)

• Advice to Younger Self: He candidly advises his younger self to slow down and avoid substance abuse, acknowledging the toll fame took on his well-being:
  "Stay away from the cocaine, for God's sake." (18:38)

c. Personal Anecdotes and Musical Collaborations

Elton reminisces about his friendship with John Lennon, highlighting their collaborative spirit and mutual support:
"John had this reputation of having a mean temper and being difficult. Never with me. He was just so nice." (25:58)

He also shares touching moments from the documentary, illustrating his deep connections within the music industry and the impact of these relationships on his personal growth.

4. Collaboration with Brandi Carlile

a. Meeting Brandi Carlile

Brandi Carlile joins the conversation, sharing how she met Elton:

• The Letter that Started It All: Brandi recounts writing Elton a letter after becoming a fan, leading to their collaboration on her song:
  "I wrote Elton a letter when I first came to California, got a record deal and made an album." (30:32)

• Forming a Friendship: Their professional relationship blossoms into a deep friendship, with Elton expressing gratitude for Brandi’s initiative:
  "If she hadn't written that letter, she might not have met me. And it's been one of the greatest joys of my life to have a relationship with her." (30:57)

b. Supporting Young Artists

Elton discusses his commitment to nurturing emerging talent, highlighting his program "Rocket Hour" on Apple Music:

• Promoting New Music:
  "I try and play as much new music as I can, and I try to interview people that I can who are young." (32:00)

• Brandi’s Impact: Brandi shares how Elton’s support has been instrumental in her career, emphasizing his genuine interest in fostering artistic growth:
  "It's been one of the greatest joys of my life to have a relationship with her." (31:45)

c. Reflections on Musical Influences

Brandi delves into how Elton John’s music influenced her:

• Skyline Pigeon: The first Elton song that profoundly impacted Brandi was "Skyline Pigeon," which inspired her to pursue songwriting:
  "It was a crossroads in my life because the music changed my whole worldview." (33:16)

d. Shared Musical Experiences

The duo reminisces about jamming with Joni Mitchell, illustrating the collaborative and joyous nature of their musical endeavors:

• Joni Mitchell Jams:
  "Seeing someone you idolized and be able to sit there in their house and have a sing song... There are no egos." (38:49)

• Covering Elton’s Music: Brandi discusses her admiration for Elton’s songs and her desire to cover his albums in their entirety:
  "Captain Fantastic and the Miranda at Cowboy because it's such a realized story." (40:20)

5. Conclusion

As the conversation winds down, Elton and Brandi express their continued passion for music and future projects. Elton hints at new recordings and creative ventures, while Brandi emphasizes the enduring influence Elton has had on her artistry. Colbert wraps up the episode by appreciating the heartfelt and insightful discussion, leaving listeners with a sense of warmth and inspiration during the holiday season.

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Notable Quotes

• Stephen Colbert on Holiday Meals:
  “If we eat burgers on Christmas, what are we gonna eat on the 4th of July?” (01:03)

• Elton John on EGOT Achievement:
  “Becoming an EGOT meant so much to me because the American public have given me so much throughout my career.” (13:15)

• Elton John Reflecting on Sobriety:
  “Stay away from the cocaine, for God's sake.” (18:38)

• Brandi Carlile on Meeting Elton:
  “If she hadn't written that letter, she might not have met me. And it's been one of the greatest joys of my life to have a relationship with her.” (30:57)

• Elton John on Supporting Young Artists:
  “I try and play as much new music as I can, and I try to interview people that I can who are young.” (32:00)

• Brandi Carlile on Musical Influence:
  “It was a crossroads in my life because the music changed my whole worldview.” (33:16)

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This episode masterfully intertwines humor, personal anecdotes, and profound reflections, offering listeners an intimate glimpse into Elton John’s illustrious career and his meaningful collaboration with Brandi Carlile. Whether you're a longtime fan or new to their music, "Xmas & Chill" provides both entertainment and inspiration, embodying the spirit of the holiday season.

Transcript

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[Elton John]

The Ford Explorer is America's all time best selling suv.

[Stephen Colbert]

But we couldn't leave it at that.

[Elton John]

Because you still have unmarked paths to pursue. So we gave it an available 400 horsepower engine. It's up to you what you do with that power. The 2025 Ford Explorer, it's all in the name based on S and p Global Mobility 1946, the current US total new cumulative registrations for all vehicles identified as SUVs. Horsepower and torque ratings based on premium fuel per SAEJ1349 standard. Your results may vary.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Ladies and gentlemen, we're just. What is it? What is today's date? What's the date? What is this? We are just a little over one week away from Christmas. And I would say I hope your stockings are hung by the chimney with care, your eggs are nogged and your nuts are fully megged. But apparently, according to a new poll, Americans are over Christmas traditions. What? Christmas is traditions. You can't be over them and still have Christmas. If you don't put out your wooden shoes, how will Sinterklaus fill them? With dried fruits and nut meat for a prosperous harvest. Think Hans think. One tradition that a lot of people are ready to shake up is the holiday meal. Evidently with many people saying that this year they want burgers instead of turkey. Yeah, that's true. That according to noted sociographic analyst Clarence T. Gobbleson. He's a doctor. It's Dr. Clarence D. Gobbleton. But I gotta ask, if we eat burgers on Christmas, what are we gonna eat on the 4th of July? This just throws off the whole festive food calendar. I can't eat burritos on Arbor Day. You eat wood. It's not just burgers. 44% of respondents say they want pizza, 38% said tacos, and 34% said Chinese takeout. Yes, that 34% also celebrates Christmas by watching a movie and then lighting Hanukkah candles. Americans also sure It's a miracle. How did the oil. How did the oil last? Americans also want to dress differently. This year, 47% would prefer to spend the whole day in their pajamas rather than getting dressed down.

[Elton John]

Oh, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. I just want to point out, do you want to stay? Avoid your family while eating tacos and pizza? That's not Christmas. That's not Christmas. That's clinical depression. Other holiday trends are on the way out. 28% of respondents said they're open to swapping elf on the shelf. Well, that's fine, because based on the look of that elf, I'm pretty sure he's into swapping. Hey, hey, hey, hey, hey. Three wise men. My elf wife and I just noticed you from across the mantel, and we like your vibe. Don't forget to bring the mer. There are also.

[Elton John]

What's myrrh?

[Stephen Colbert]

There are also some fun new dating trends this Christmas, according to a reporter who clearly needed to fill out their Christmas word count. For example, that thing where you have a holiday fling and then the magic wears off and the relationship kind of melts away. That's being called snowmanning. Not to be confused with Snow Manning, which is the musical duo made up of quarterback Peyton Manning and Canadian reggae rapper Snow. Now, you might say that graphic is a lot of effort for a joke that we can all agree is a bit of a stretch until you say that we also made this snowmanning's greatest hit. Jim in football, you run and pass and throw, and it's a game.

[Elton John]

I want a big touchdown.

[Stephen Colbert]

One Merry Christmas. One dating expert. A job that is very real, explained snowmanning. This way. Christmas is a great opportunity to find someone special. However, once the drinks stop flowing and the decorations come down, sometimes that initial burst of chemistry wears off. I believe we have footage of the original example of snowmanning.

[Elton John]

I was just hooking up with Charlotte to stave off my seasonal depression.

[Stephen Colbert]

In other. In other. In other. In other wintry dating trends, there's supposedly something called which is when you drag someone along through the holidays with the intention of dumping them. There's also winter coating in which people reach out to old flames in the winter, much like they would an old coat. Yes, the best is when you reach inside your old lover and find a $20 bill. Damn. It's a mask. Yeah, I know. You find a lot of masks. I found a lot of masks so far this year. New Year's is also going to give us some gifts because Popeye will enter the public domain in 2025. That's right. We'll all be celebrating it on Anderson and Andy's New Year's Popeye's Eve. These days, copyrights expire after 95 years. So the public domain Popeye is from 1929. Like this first appearance in a comic called Thimble Theater, where Popeye famously says, you think I'm a cowboy. That's nice. In just a little over two weeks, that catchphrase can be mine and I can finally get rid of my current catchphrase. Yabba dabba lecho, Popeye. Thank you. Thank you. Really did not expect an applause on that Popeye. No, no, I was not. I promise you, I was not thrown on the milking machine right there. Popping Popeye isn't the only comic going public. So is Tintin, a character who is super popular in most countries, but not here. It's kind of like. Kind of like the metric system. So to make it easier for Americans, just remember one Tintin is exactly 2.54. Bart Simpsons. Of course, the new year is also. The new year is also going to bring us a new old president. Well, yesterday, that guy held a press conference at Mar a Lago. I'm not going to talk about it much because I don't want to. And you can't make me. Matter of fact, I'm already done. What else is going on? You know, it's easy to get down about the potential collapse of democracy in America, but don't forget to also get down about potential collapse of democracy in other countries, too, especially among our allies. In just the past month, South Korea's president has been impeached, the French government fell, and Germany is facing economic crisis and government collapse. Even our goody two shoes upstairs neighbors are having a rough run of it because there's a political crisis around Canadian prime minister and Disney prince. Who's so boring you'd rather hook up with a talking candlestick, Justin Trudeau. Trudeau has become very unpopular because Canadians are frustrated by the rising cost of living and immigration. Welcome to the club Deadly Durang. There you go. There you go. Hey, how's it going? How you guys doing? Everybody okay? All right, I'll tell you what. Let me eat with some of Grandpa Joe's hard earned wisdom. You're done. You're burnt. Scoot your freezing keister, meester. Just pardon your son, get the hell out of there, and then buy a couple of drones and fly them around the airport. Have a great time. Confuse the hell out of everybody sitting right there. That's what Jill and I are doing. Come on, Justin. Jack. Even more challenging, Trudeau. Thank you, citizen. Even more challenging, Trudeau has to deal with Trump's threats of a 25% tariff on on Canadian imports. That would be a disaster for Canada. Three quarters of their exports go to the United States. Lumber, maple syrup. Not to mention they're our number one supplier of dry. What are we going to import now? Polish wet. You know their motto, you drink wet now. Oh, you know what that sound means? Time for bird news. I love all our winged friends. Robins, flamingos, buffalo wild. So I was thrilled to learn that the bald eagle is finally set to become America's official national bird. Now you're probably saying, Steve, I thought it was already the official national bird. Nope. Officially America's national bird is the kfc. Double down. There's some terrible news from across the pond because apparently a Guinnessless Christmas may be in the cards as pubs run dry across the uk. One reason might be because what used to be seen as the drink of choice for middle aged men has recently soared in popularity among younger women. Welcome younger women. Welcome to our world. Middle aged men have all the best hobbies. Dad bands, cargo shorts, taking pictures at graduation with an iPad. We got a great show for you ton coming up.

[Paramount Ads Manager]

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[Stephen Colbert]

You know my first guest tonight is one of the most iconic and acclaimed musicians of all time. He's a Rock and Roll hall of Famer who has sold more than 300 million records worldwide. And his music has won essentially every award that has ever Been made. Please welcome back to the Late Show, Elton John. Thank you. Well, as you can tell, I'm not the only one who's happy that you're here. Elton John. And, you know, I've been lucky enough to talk to you before, and you know that it is difficult for me to express how happy I am to see you because I am not an epic poet to cast my words in verse for you. Just thrilled to have a chance to talk to you again. How are you feeling?

[Elton John]

I'm feeling very, very well. My health is great. Never been healthier. No. Everything. You know, we have a little problem with the eyes, but, you know, compared to most people, I'm the luckiest man in the world. So I. I'm very, very happy with every year.

[Stephen Colbert]

Lovely to hear it. Well, you've had quite a year and well deserved. Besides, you already have five Grammys, two Oscars, a Tony. But this year, you finally got an Emmy, making you an egot for the first time. And I know, I know someone as accomplished as you are has received a lot of awards, but does it feel good to, like, kind of check that box?

[Elton John]

It was a fantastic. I was asleep at home in Windsor in England, and David phoned me and he FaceTimed me and said, how would you like to have one of these? And he held up two Emmys, and I knew we'd won. And I was so excited, mostly for him because he did such a great job with the live broadcast from Dodger Stadium. But it felt really good. It's just, you know, only 19 people have EGOTs, and it's. It feels from America because I came to America from England with my eyes wide open, because this is the place I always wanted to come to. This is where all the great music came from, the movies, everything about it. And so to become an egot meant so much to me because the American public have given me so much throughout my career, and it felt great. Who doesn't want to win anything anyway? Come on. Well.

[Stephen Colbert]

You also. You also have just been named Time magazine's Icon of the Year. And of all the awards. I'm just curious, as a longtime fan of all the awards and distinctions that you've gotten over the years, is there one that is most meaningful to you as a singer, songwriter?

[Elton John]

I think the Gershwin Award was pretty. We got that this year as well. And George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin wrote some of the most incredible songs of all time. And to be recognized for our songwriting, which we started out doing, you and I, Bernie Taupin and myself, before I became A recording artist. We were songwriters, so I think that was an incredible moment to be recognized for what we actually started out doing. And, you know, we've had a lot of success, but to get that award and to be in the Library of Congress was unbelievable. What a place.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Nice in there with Jefferson's original collection in my house.

[Elton John]

But it's okay. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, now. Now there's a documentary about your life. It's called Elton John Never Too Late.

[Elton John]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

The first question, obviously, is never too late for what? Cause I think it's never too late in a meal to answer that question.

[Elton John]

You'll never be on the air again.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, so never too late for what?

[Elton John]

Never too late to change your life, to make decisions that will make your life better. I mean, the documentary really documents my rise from. To fame, from 70 to 75 at Dodger Stadium, culminating at Dodger Stadium, where I had the most incredible success. But underneath that, apart from the success, there was no basis. There was no foundation underneath me. I didn't have anything. I was incredibly unhappy. I. You know, I wanted to be loved. I wanted to have a relationship, but I didn't have it. And it then goes to 40. God, how many years, 47 years later at Dodger Stadium, playing it again, where I have a family, children, and a life that I love so much, which is so much more important than having a number one record.

[Stephen Colbert]

75 was after Captain Fantastic or after Yellow Brick Road.

[Elton John]

I can't remember. I don't know.

[Stephen Colbert]

There have been too many. Too many.

[Elton John]

We released 13 albums in five years. Stephen. I don't really.

[Stephen Colbert]

You and Bernie, 13 albums in five years?

[Elton John]

Yes. And separate singles.

[Stephen Colbert]

How is that possible? And would it be still legal today?

[Elton John]

It's possible because I was loving what I was doing. Plus the fact there were no mobile phones, there was no paparazzi, there was no Internet. You just did what you did and you loved doing it. So writing albums and writing songs was such a pleasure for me, and I didn't find it hard work. I just thought it was the greatest thing in the world because I was here meeting so many people that I loved and admired, and they came and they saw me. So it was just. I was like a kid in a candy store. And, yeah, when you look back, when I saw the documentary and I looked back on it, the thing I was proudest of most of, from the musical point of view, was the music sounded great from 1970-75. And I don't listen to my music very much, but I thought that sounded pretty good. That Sounded all right. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, it is. It is. It's pretty good. Spoiler. Yeah, you wrote some pretty good stuff. I'm just curious about. I like that point about no cell phones and no Internet. Do you. How do you. When you were actually writing songs, what do you do to focus? Do you need to, like, put out everything else in your life so you're just you and the piano for a while?

[Elton John]

Me and the lyrics. I, you know, I write to lyrics, and I always have done. When I see the written word and I get an idea in my head if I choose the title or what if I read through the lyrics and I say, that's the one, it just sets me off. God knows how I do it. I mean, Bernie and I have written songs and never been in the same room.

[Stephen Colbert]

He used to mail you the lyrics, right?

[Elton John]

He used to mail me the lyrics. He used to email me the lyrics. In the early days, it was done by handwriting, then it was faxed, and nowadays it's emailed. But it's.

[Stephen Colbert]

Was there anything looking back at that documentary? Because you said. I think you said on the show that you're a person who doesn't look back. You're always trying to look forward, new creative challenges, but you have to look back at your life for a documentary. Did anything surprise you about those years?

[Elton John]

How much work we did? I mean, that's an awful lot of work, as well as touring, doing interviews.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you have any advice for that guy from 47 years ago?

[Elton John]

Yeah. Slowed down a bit. No. You know, it got to 75 and then it was. Success was incredible. I couldn't have done any more than I could have done and been more successful. I would have said to the guy, listen, stay away from the cocaine, for God's sake. It's no good. I've got a very small nose, and it's had a real battering, this nose. And I just wasted so much of my life doing the most stupid things. And then I got sober and I made amends for it and I got a new life together, and it was fantastic.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, you are. You are the quintessential rocket man, and you were on a real rocket ride back then. I recently had Sabrina Carpenter on the show, and I talked to her about her rocket ride, about, are you enjoying it? Make sure you take the time you.

[Elton John]

Have to enjoy it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you take the time to enjoy it when you were her age?

[Elton John]

Of course. Of course. I loved every single minute. Being in America, you know, going from city to city, playing in Memphis, where Elvis started out Playing in Nashville. I mean, it was playing. I visited the Sun Studios in Memphis. I visited the Detroit Motown Studios. I visited Stacks, eight track Machine. All the music that found in my life. When I first came to New York in 1970, I wanted to go to the Apollo Theater. But no one would take me. No taxi drivers. It's not safe. It's not safe. Till I found one truck driver said, I'll take you, but I'll stay there with you. And I said, that's fine. All I want to do is see the Apollo Theater. And I saw it and it lit my soul. Because all the great music that had been made there, it's. This country is full of the most incredible history in the shortest time of the music, the art, the movies. It's an incredible place. And from a boy from England to soak that up, it was manna from heaven.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, you were not. You weren't always Elton John. You were born Reginald Kenneth Dwight.

[Elton John]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Which is also a lovely name.

[Elton John]

It's a name.

[Stephen Colbert]

Agree to disagree.

[Elton John]

Who the hell calls this? A little baby, right? Little baby like Reginald. Oh, Reginald. I was named after my mum's brother because she wanted to call me Raymond, but my father disagreed. So they had a huge argument, which wasn't, you know. And I became Reginald and I hated it. Reggie. Reggie. It's a more popular name in America and they've had very many famous Reggies. But in England, it wasn't Reggie, it was Reginald. It's like, who the hell. Anyway. And as soon as I could change it by deep hole, I did.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, it's. Reginald is the male version of Regina. Right. Which means queen.

[Elton John]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, how did. So. But I want to know.

[Elton John]

They got it spot on and. Right. In 1947, they knew what they were doing. Right.

[Stephen Colbert]

How did you choose. How did you choose your name? Which was. I found out today your full stage name or new name was Elton Hercules John. Who names their child Hercules?

[Elton John]

I do. No, I chose Elton because I was in a band with a guy called Longjob Baldry. And I had to choose a name very quickly. So I was on the bus back with the band from Heathrow to London and our saxophone player was called Elton Dean. And I thought, Elton. There's not many Eltons in the world. That's pretty unusual. And John Ballrew went Elton John. Very cute. I'll have that. And then middle names are quite useless. Anyway, no one uses them, do they? I don't know any. So. Hercules.

[Stephen Colbert]

Lee Harvey Oswald.

[Elton John]

Hercules. Yeah. Hercules was a horse on a program Called Steptoe and Son in England, which was a very famous program. So I chose Hercules. Why not?

[Stephen Colbert]

Did it change you as a person to have a new name?

[Elton John]

Absolutely. It really did. But the sad thing about it was by 1975, when I was out the Hercules John, there was still a lot of Reg in me, and Reg had been lost. And I craved to find that little boy that I used to be and had become Elton John superstar. And I paid the price for, for being so famous and not having, I don't know, not having that foundation. And it, you know, it took over my life. Fame is a very weird thing. I mean, I enjoyed every single minute of it until I realized that the only thing in my life was fame. And I didn't like her. And I got very unhappy. My moods shifted. I started doing drugs. And I just thought, where am I? Who am I? What have I become? And so all that changed in 1990, when I did get sober, when I refound my old self or whatever. And it was lovely to find that little boy again. But it's. Well, fame is a really incredible business. If you, you get caught up in it too much, you're in a really bad position. And I can name you names. Elvis Presley, Sure. Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson. It's a tough thing.

[Stephen Colbert]

The purpose of fame, in my opinion, is to work. That's it. But you can't mistake that. The purpose of fame is so that you will continue to work at the things.

[Elton John]

You have to have a balance. You have to have a balance. Look at you. I mean, by day you're doing this. By night you're doing this. By day you're doing the, you know, the dust carts. It's good. You know, you're the trash carts and.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly.

[Elton John]

Yeah. And it keeps you on the, keeps you down there.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm in the el. I'm in the, the hot dog stand outside. Exactly. I'm dressed up as Elmo down in central. Okay. In, in the documentary about yout life, Elton John, Never too late, you actually share some parts of your life that nobody has ever seen. For instance, we have a clip of you playing with John Lennon. Jim.

[Elton John]

I was very nervous, but for me it was a dream come true. I could have died and gone to heaven. You know, I, I, I cycled to hatch end to get the Beatles album. And here I am playing on his record and, and having the greatest time and having the best fun with him. And I said, listen, I said, this is a number one record. And he went, no, no. And I said, listen, if it Gets to number one, you've got to come on stage with me. And he never thought in a million years it would get to number one. And then when he got to number one, he didn't try and sh. Out of it. And he certainly hadn't played in stage in New York since Shea Stadium.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Elton John]

We went up to Boston to see Elton in concert so that John could get an idea of what it was like. And he hadn't been to a show in a long, long time and didn't realize how much more sophisticated it had got.

[Stephen Colbert]

That. That's extraordinary to be able to go up there, to write and to work on. To work on a song with John. Len, what was it like to have John Lennon as a friend? Was he a good hang?

[Elton John]

He was incredibly. He was. You know, John had this reputation of having a mean temper and being difficult. Never with me. He was just so nice. And with the band, he was just. He was just wonderful. And we hung out for two years together. We misbehaved together.

[Stephen Colbert]

Two years?

[Elton John]

Yeah. I mean, we were buddies for two years. And then when we did that Madison Square garden on Thanksgiving, 1974, Yoko, who he was estranged for, came to the show and she bought two gardenias, One for her, one for him. And that was the night they got back together. And he found his love again. He never played again, but he had Sean, and he became the father that he wasn't before. And, you know, it was wonderful to see him become happy and find the love of his life again, which he was.

[Stephen Colbert]

And that was the last time he played, performed live in front of a crowd. Well, it's been a year and a half since you finished touring. You've been in world tours for the past 55 years. How does it feel to not have another world tour looming?

[Elton John]

It's the most fantastic thing in the world.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you not like the world tours?

[Elton John]

I love the world tours, but I've been going since 1970, before that even. I've done 55 years of touring. There's nothing. I ended on a high. My voice was great. The piano playing was great. The band was great. There are other things I want to do with my life that are more important than Turing. I'm still gonna make records. I'm still gonna have a musical future. But I want to be with my boys, and I wanna be with David, because I love them more than I love Turing.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do your boys know? I'm curious. Cause kids, you know, for kids, Your dad. Do the kids know that you're Elton John?

[Elton John]

Oh, yes. They Do? How could you not? I mean, when you wear a tiara for breakfast, of course they know who you are.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's it.

[Elton John]

But no, I don't bring Elton John home. I'm just dad at home and Daddy or Dada, as Zachary calls me Dada and Elijah calls me dad. No, it's the most. You know, without having children, our lives would be so meaningless. I'm so glad we had them dacrit before tea. Christmas Day. Elijah B12 in January. It's been the greatest time of our lives.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you, when you were, when they were younger, did you sing them to bed? Did you sing them to sleep?

[Elton John]

When they were little, we sang them to bed. We read them stories every night. Even when they couldn't understand what we were saying, it was a ritual that we held them. Gaga, who's their godmother, used to come and bathe them and sing them to bed.

[Stephen Colbert]

So Lady Gaga?

[Elton John]

No, Maurice Gaga.

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, no, but Gaga Gaga sounds like a name you would give a grandmother. You know what I mean? Like you know. But that's literally Lady Kung.

[Elton John]

Yeah. Lady Cunt. Go ahead.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Exactly. Sorry, I apologize.

[Elton John]

That's it. How many, how many effing Gaga's do you know?

[Stephen Colbert]

You can say here. It's okay.

[Elton John]

Okay, sorry.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. There's too much, there's too much to talk to you about. They're telling me to wrap up there, but I'm not going to do it. Can you just stay just a little bit longer, please?

[Elton John]

I will. Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Elton John]

Please.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have to take a quick break. We're right back with more of Elton John. Everybody. This episode is brought to you by Amazon.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Hey everybody, we're back with Elton John. Okay, there's an original song on the documentary. It's called Never Too Late. And the person you wrote it with and sang it with is an incredible artist, 11 time Grammy Award winner, Brandi Carlisle. And I also love Brandi Carlisle and it Would be lovely to speak to the two of you together. So, Brandi, why don't you come on out? Brandi, Brandi, I love. Lovely to see you. How did you first come to meet Elton?

[Brandi Carlile]

How did I first come to meet Elton? Well, I wrote him a letter. I like you, Stephen, am a massive, massive Elton John disciple from a young age. And I wrote Elton a letter when I first came to California, got a record deal and made an album. And I asked him if he would come and play piano on one of my songs. And in true Elton fashion, he agreed to do that outrageous thing.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. There are a lot of people out there right now writing letters.

[Brandi Carlile]

You realize you're about to get so many letters.

[Elton John]

But I'd heard her music and I was doing a residency in Vegas at the time, so I asked her to come to Vegas and I played and sang on the record. And as soon as I saw her, I became friends with her. She was like. I'd known her all my life and she's one of my best friends. And Catherine, her wife, and the kids that they have, they come and spend their summer holidays with us. They become family. And if she hadn't written that letter, it's like, if I haven't had gone and answered that advert for songwriters and singers, I would never have met Bernie. If she hadn't written that letter, she might not have met me. And it's been one of the greatest joys of my life to have a relationship with her.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, it's, I mean, it's, you know, it's well known that you're very supportive of young artists, songwriters and singers. What is it about young up and coming people that excites you so much to reach out to them or to respond to them?

[Elton John]

Well, I do rodeo program every week for Apple called Rocket Hour. And I try and play as much new music as I can, and I try to interview people that I can who are young, and it's a way of giving them some sort of promotion because it's very difficult to get on mainstream radio. And a lot of these artists don't fit on mainstream radio, but they're making great music. So, for example, when I first heard Chapel Rowan and played her God knows how long ago, I think I was the first person to play Chapel Rowan Pink Pony Club. And then I interviewed her and then we became friends. And Alison Pontchier, the Linda. Linda's in la. It's just a great. It gives me the energy. These young artists have so much energy. They're so good. And if I can help them in any way. Get a foot on a ladder, I will help them.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, Randy, I'm curious. For me, as a boy, hearing these albums when they first came out in those incredibly prolific years of yours, for me, it was Don't Shoot Me, I'm Only the Piano Player, Yellow Brick Road Captain Fantastic, and the Brown Dirt Cowboy. I'm curious, what was the first album or song that really struck you of Elton's?

[Brandi Carlile]

Well, the first song I ever heard of Elton and Bernie's was Skyline Pigeon. I went to the King County Library and I borrowed, kept, borrowed a CD called Here and There. It was like a live recording. And it was really the first time. It was a crossroads in my life because the music changed my whole worldview. I'd only been allowed to really listen to country music up to that point. And I discovered Elton in a book report, and this was in maybe 1991, 1992. So I found Elton at a point in my life and at a point in his life that I think is unusual, but I became a fanatic. Within three months, I had a Casio keyboard, and I was determined to learn to write songs. And it changed everything about my whole life.

[Stephen Colbert]

So you were Elton John. For so many people who were moved by your music, and it changed their life, or it helped save their life, like mine. Because you were so important to me at a terrible time in my life. Who was your Elton John? Who were the people who. Who was the icon for you? Who touched your heart at a young age?

[Elton John]

Ooh, God, that's a difficult question. I mean, there were so many who touched my heart. Little Richard touched my heart because he was so amazing, cool. Ray Charles touched my heart. So many people. But Elvis Presley changed my life with Heartbreak Hotel. When I first heard that record, I knew, I want to do this. I want to do this. I love this. This is so different. So all those people from that time had the biggest influence on me.

[Stephen Colbert]

I've asked some artists, some great artists this question of their own work. For instance, I asked Bruce Springsteen this question in that chair. What are Elton John's top five Elton John songs?

[Elton John]

Oh, for sake. Well, I write songs that have no Bernie lyrics, and they're very dear to me. Yes. Your bum is like a magnet. One of them.

[Brandi Carlile]

Oh, you're gonna talk about your bum is like a magnet right now?

[Elton John]

Yeah. Yes. Yeah. No, seriously, I would say anything off the Captain Fantastic album. Someone saved my life tonight we all fall in love sometimes Curtains. Obviously your song, because it was the first hit I ever had. There's so many, Stephen. I couldn't really. I'll think of one other thing. Blessed is another one, which I love.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's four. You've already done four.

[Elton John]

You've done four. Sorry, not Crocodile Rock. I know that.

[Brandi Carlile]

La la la la la.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did you ever write. Did you ever write anything country? Country style or something?

[Elton John]

Oh, yeah, of course. Yes. I love country music and we've written lots of country songs on our albums. And Tumbleweed Connections, you know, Country Comfort was on Tumbleweed Connections.

[Stephen Colbert]

Brandy, how'd you get involved in this documentary?

[Brandi Carlile]

I was. Me and my wife Catherine and the girls, we were visiting Elton and David and the boys, and Elton went to bed early one night, had an interview early the next morning, and David asked if we wanted to stay up and screen this documentary. And so we were like, yeah. So we go upstairs to check this thing out. And the archival footage was just mind blowing, you know, because there wasn't an inch of my wall that wasn't covered with an Elton John poster or a snippet from an interview or something I'd cut out from a vinyl package. And I was just struck by. It was one of those moments in my career that kind of floods over me where I was like, I'm watching this in Elton John's house. And I was so moved by it. I was so moved by his latter day serenity that he's described out here so beautifully that I thought, I love what this documentary does because it forces Elton to sit somewhere for just a little while and reflect on the impact that he's made on the world and reflect on what he's achieved and what he's overcome. And I wanted to write a song.

[Stephen Colbert]

That did that, you know, after knowing Elton for so long. What do you wish people knew about this band?

[Brandi Carlile]

Oh, there's so many things I wish you knew. The lyrics to your bum is like a magnet, because you'd understand so much more about him if you did. I wish people knew. I think you do know, but as enormous as you think his heart is, it's bigger than that. And he's incredibly tough, you know, really tough, really resilient. The Hercules name, it's more fitting than anyone ever really knows.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, in October.

[Brandi Carlile]

He's an iron man, baby.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have another clip here. We have another clip here. It's back stage at the Hollywood bowl where you were both there to join Joni Mitchell for her concert. And this is all of y'all doing a jam with Joni Mitchell with an Elton John song. Jim.

[Paramount Ads Manager]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, Brandy, you've told us about the Joanie jams before. Elton, what do you love about sitting in the living room or in. In a room with Joanie doing the jam? What does that give you?

[Elton John]

Well, just being a room with Joni Mitchell does it for me. And, you know, when Brady started doing these Joni jams, Joanie could only just played the bongos and didn't really sing much except for Summertime and Love Potion Number Nine. And the more these jams happened, the more Joanie's musicality came back and she started playing guitar. She's sang, she's done concerts. Now it's unthinkable because she was in such a bad way. I've always been a Joni Mitchell fanatic, but I've only got to know her since she had the accident and the aneurysm. So it. For me, it's seeing someone you idolized and be able to sit there in their house and have a sing song like we used to do after the war in England. We used to sit around the piano and all the family would come around and we would sing songs. It's very similar to that. There are no egos. You leave your ego at the door, and if you don't sing, you're a wuss.

[Brandi Carlile]

He said that? Actually, he said. Elton said. He said what? He. I just told you now, at the very first jam that he came to, he said that this is like the way it used to be with music. And then before he didn't even miss a beat, he knew it was, like, time to sing. And so his version of Hold My Beer is. He goes, hold my rings, and he starts taking his rings off. And we all knew he was going to go get on the piano, and it was just stunning.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, Brandi, you covered Joni Mitchell's Blue so beautifully. I got a chance to see that. If there was one Elton John album that you would cover from start to to finish, what would it be?

[Brandi Carlile]

That's a really hard question.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's what I do.

[Brandi Carlile]

I have tossed around the idea of doing three Goodbye Yellow Brick Road because it's so diverse and so Long, Captain Fantastic and the Miranda at Cowboy because it's such a realized story. But I think Mad Men across the Water will be really wild because of all the string arrangements. So you and Nate, we can decide later what I don't cover. You can cover because I hear you. You can do a hell of an Elton John cover, too, don't you?

[Elton John]

Me?

[Brandi Carlile]

Yeah.

[Elton John]

Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

I can sing the whole damn catalog.

[Elton John]

Yeah. And he can sing. My bum is like a magnet, too.

[Stephen Colbert]

Because my bum is like a magnet.

[Elton John]

It certainly is.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, I have to ask. So you've been here, you've been on the piano, you've been jamming with Joanie. You've been off the road for a year and a half now. Are the juices flowing again? Are we going to get more Elton John music?

[Elton John]

You will be getting some more. The Deuces have never dried up. They never want to dry up. Because I'm always looking to create things. It's just having the space now to do it at my own time. And, of course, there will be.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, Elton, thank you so much for being here. Randy, always a pleasure. Thank you for listening to the Late Show POD show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

[Paramount Ads Manager]

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[Brandi Carlile]

You do have a lot going on.

[Elton John]

I'm fine.

[Brandi Carlile]

You got a brand new baby, an unemployed wife.

[Elton John]

You got no money. Okay, okay.

[Paramount Ads Manager]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, Coulter, we have a job for you.

[Elton John]

Send me the info.

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[Brandi Carlile]

If it were any one of us out there, he wouldn't hesitate.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm gonna do everything I can.

[Paramount Ads Manager]

Tracker new season, Streaming on Paramount. Plus new episodes, CBS, Sunday at 87 Central.