Elton John revealed details of his upcoming solo album during a weekend ceremony in Toronto. The 79-year-old singer described the record as 'so happy' while accepting the Glenn Gould Prize.
John spoke Saturday at the Theatre at Great Canadian Casino Resort. He explained that vision loss from a 2024 eye infection forced him to change his songwriting process for the first time in decades. Instead of starting with lyrics, he now writes melodies first, which led to an album unlike any of his previous 30 studio releases. He said the shift gave him a fresh creative opportunity at nearly 80 years old. John also donated the $100,000 prize back to the Glenn Gould Foundation and selected mezzo soprano Emily D’Angelo to receive the associated protégé award. During his speech, he praised Canada as a welcoming country and joined Canadian performers for a finale of 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.'