Sir Elton John reached out to Chappell Roan to offer her advice on how to deal with fame.
The 77-year-old music legend has FaceTimed with Chappell, 26, after realising she was “overwhelmed with her sudden success” after her single ‘Good Luck, Babe!’ blew up in 2024.
Speaking to The Ankler, he said: “Sometimes, you know, they get a little overwhelmed. Chappell was a little overwhelmed with her sudden success — although she’d been writing for a long time, it really kind of ballooned very quickly. I just try and calm her down and say, ‘Listen, it’s fine. It’s fine. Do what you want. Don’t listen to anybody. Walk at your own speed. Do not listen to the record company saying, ‘We want another album, we want another album.’ Do it when you’re ready to do it.’ I’ve got that experience. I’ve been through everything in my life as far as knowing what to do in music, seeing people come, seeing people go. Sometimes they disappear much too quickly.”
Elton has helped several high-profile pop stars who have struggled with fame or have endured substance abuse issues with Robbie Williams, Eminem and Britney Spears all benefitting from his friendship and years of experience.
The ‘I’m Still Standing’ singer overcame his own addiction issues and he feels it is his responsibility as a “survivor” of the music business to support his peers.
He said: “I’m kind of a survivor; one of the people still around at 77. I’m probably as popular as I was when I was younger, and that’s been a miracle. But it’s nice to be able to pass that stuff on and see the results in people.
“There’s this English singer Raye, who’s a wonderful artist. She left her record company on principle and did what she wanted to do. And it just completely was successful. I admire her so much for doing that. She took a stand and her result was her own vision of what she should be doing. It just exploded.”