**Elton John Confesses Exhaustion During Brandi Carlile Collaboration: ‘I Was Drained’**

Sir Elton John shows no signs of slowing down.

On April 4, the 78-year-old music legend joined forces with Brandi Carlile, producer Andrew Watt, and longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin for the New York premiere of Who Believes In Angels? Stories from the Edge Of Creation at the 92nd Street Y. The collaborative album, also titled Who Believes in Angels?, debuted the same day.

During the panel discussion, John confessed to moderator Dave Karger about struggling physically during the creative process: “I wasn’t at my best while crafting this record.”

“Studio sessions can be unpredictable when aiming for greatness,” John reflected. “We began with blank pages – four creators without a roadmap. Just raw talent colliding. But exhaustion clouded my mind. The fatigue was overwhelming.”

The music icon, who boasts five Grammy wins, added: “Self-doubt haunted me like never before. That anxiety fueled intense emotions and regrettable outbursts. Strangely, that turmoil became essential – it forced me to push beyond my perceived limits.”

Accompanying documentary footage reveals the album’s intense creation journey between the two artists, whose friendship spans decades.

Venturing into Carlile’s Americana roots marked new territory for John, celebrated for his avant-garde pop style. Despite genre-shifting pressures, the veteran performer expressed pride in their unconventional fusion.

“This collaboration defied all my previous experiences,” John revealed. “When lyrics about Laura Nyro – my musical hero – suddenly flowed, it felt spiritual. Tracks like ‘Little Richard’s Bible’ and ‘Swing for the Fences’ finally channeled that chaotic energy into something magical.”

“Recording the closing track ‘When This Old World Is Done with Me’ broke me emotionally,” John admitted. “All the pent-up stress about delivering something truly unique – different from my past work – came pouring out. These three incredible collaborators kept me grounded through the storm.”

The documentary’s most startling moment captures John snapping at Carlile with explicit language. Addressing the incident, Carlile told attendees: “Those raw exchanges revealed his unfiltered authenticity. When Elton creates, nothing inhibits the music flowing through him – that visceral honesty built his legendary career.”

She elaborated: “That unbridled passion translates directly into his art. For over five decades, that lack of self-censorship has given us timeless anthems. It’s why Elton John remains irreplaceable in music history.”

The album explores mortality through dual lenses – literal interpretations of afterlife concepts and metaphorical reflections on artistic legacies, blending Carlile’s narrative style with nostalgic tributes.

Who Believes In Angels? became available worldwide on April 4, while the companion film Who Believes In Angels? Stories from the Edge Of Creation streams on YouTube from noon ET April 5.