“I'm Still Reeling”: Brandi Carlile and Elton John Announce New Album, ‘Who Believes in Angels?’ and Release Title-Track

Brandi Carlile and Elton John have at long last announced their collaborative album, Who Believes in Angels?, with the good friends making the title-track available immediately.

Who Believes in Angels? will arrive in full on April 4th, 2025, with the project set to include ‘Never Too Late’, which the duo released last year for Elton John's Disney+ documentary.

The keenly anticipated project has been teased a handful of times over the past year or so, with John confirming he'd recorded a surprising new project when inducting his long-time collaborator, Bernie Taupin, into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame back in 2023.

Another of the ‘Rocket Man’ icon's close pals, The Who's Pete Townshend, confirmed Elton John had joined forces with Carlile that same year, “Elton is so fraught with loss at not knowing what to do next [after his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour]. He’s just gone over to LA to make an album with Brandi Carlile. They made an album together in two weeks. He says it’s one of the best things they’ve ever done”.

Who Believes in Angels? will feature ten tracks split into two discs, with eight collaborations and one solo song apiece. The eagerly awaited record will include an array of include brand new offerings, such as ’Little Richard's Bible’ and ‘The River Man’.

The first half of the project will finish with Brandi Carlile's ‘You Without Me’, while the second portion will be closed out by Elton John's ‘When This Old World is Done with Me’.

Taking to socials, Brandi Carlile underlined how this was a dream project for her, with Elton John having served as a pivotal source of inspiration throughout her storied career.

Carlile reflected, “Listen… if you know anything about me you know this:
Elton John and I have been singing together basically my whole life — he just didn’t know it”.

The ‘Right on Time’ crooner went on to fondly explain how this feels like a full-circle moment, “I’ve been working - and dreaming - my way towards this moment since I was 11 years old. Every album I’ve ever made has carried Elton’s name in the liner notes, my quiet thank you to the artist without whom I would have never written a song...It was impossible to imagine that one day, he’d not only be my hero, but probably my best friend. In some way though I think maybe I knew?”

She expanded, “I can’t believe I’m getting to say this…Who Believes in Angels? The album I made alongside my musical soulmates Elton John, Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt will be out April 4th 2025. And the title track is out NOW...Who Believes in Angels?” before answering, “I can tell you with absolute certainty that I do”.

In an accompanying statement, Brandi Carlile gushed, “I’m still reeling from the fact that I got to do it. I think all ships rise with Elton John’s standards for songwriting, and it was an incredibly challenging and inspiring environment to work in, everybody throwing in ideas, everybody listening to everybody else’s ideas. It felt like a family”.

The ten-time Grammy victor touched on the intention behind the album, “The world is a wild place to live in right now. It’s hard to find peace and triumph. It’s a radical act to seek out joyful and euphoric happenings. And that is what this album represents to me”.

In an official statement, Elton John echoed Brandi Carlile's excitement at getting to craft this record at Los Angeles’ Sunset Sound Studios over the course of just 20 days.

Elton John endearingly mused, “This record was one of the toughest I’ve ever made, but it was also one of the greatest musical experiences of my life. It has given me a place where I know I can move forward. Who Believes In Angels? feels like going into another era and I’m pushing the door open to come into the future. I have everything I’ve done behind me and it’s been brilliant, amazing. But this is the new start for me. As far as I’m concerned, this is the start of my career Mark 2”.

The title-track is a rousing, uplifting reflection on seeking joy and hope in the midst of darkness, with Carlile penning the lyrics and John contributing the theme. Their vocals combine seamlessly, with the warmth of their friendship radiating throughout.

In addition to Carlile and John, Who Believes in Angels? features production from the Grammy-winning Andrew Watt, as well as Taupin, Chad Smith, Pino Palladino and Josh Klinghoffer. Marking Carlile's first full-length album since 2021's In These Silent Days and John's first since reluctantly retiring from touring in 2023, Who Believes in Angels? is already shaping up to be one of the biggest releases of 2025.

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