Elton John has something new to celebrate! He, at the age of 76, along with his enduring songwriting collaborator Bernie Taupin, has been revealed as the recipients of the 2024 Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.
Instituted in 2007, this prestigious award acknowledges individuals who have made significant contributions to the realm of popular song through influence, impact, and achievement.
John and the 73-year-old Taupin initially crossed paths in 1967, forging a songwriting partnership that has endured for over five decades.
Their collaboration bore fruit in 1973 when “Crocodile Rock” became their inaugural No. 1 U.S. single. Among their notable joint ventures are iconic tracks such as “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” “Bennie and the Jets,” “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” and “Tiny Dancer.”
This revelation follows Elton John’s recent induction into the EGOT hall of fame, achieved with his Emmy win in the outstanding live variety special category. Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden declared on Tuesday that John and Taupin “have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives.”
“Their careers stand out for the quality and broad appeal of their music and their influence on their fellow artists. More than 50 years ago, they came from across the pond to win over Americans and audiences worldwide with their beautiful songs and rock anthems. We’re proud to honor Elton and Bernie with the Gershwin Prize for their incredible impact on generations of music lovers,” stated Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden.
John and Taupin are set to be honored with a tribute concert in Washington, D.C., on March 20, which will be broadcast on PBS on April 8 at 8 p.m. ET. John expressed his gratitude, deeming the award an “incredible honor.”
“I’ve been writing songs with Bernie for 56 years, and we never thought that that one day this might be bestowed upon us. It’s an incredible honor for two British guys to be recognized like this. I’m so honored,” he said in a statement. Taupin shared similar sentiments.
“To be in a house along with the great American songwriters, to even be in the same avenue is humbling, and I am absolutely thrilled to accept,” his statement read.
Regarding the secret to their enduring partnership, the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee shared in September that “the glue that’s kept us together all through these years is the music.”
“I think the musicality of it all is what’s important. And that’s where we are completely 50/50, hand in hand. Nothing will ever change. That is the legacy we’ve forged and we forged that together, and that is the most important essence of our careers. So on that level, I think we are completely the same,” Taupin told.
