Elton John and Brandi Carlile will participate in a special two-part premiere screening event for a new documentary about the making of their forthcoming collaborative album, Who Believes in Angels?
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The 30-minute film, titled Who Believes in Angels? Stories from the Edge of Creation, will get its world premiere on Friday, April 4, at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The Who Believes in Angels? album will be released the same day.
[RELATED: Elton John Breaks Down Over New Song About Mortality: “How Much Time Have I Got Left?”]
Following the screening, John and Carlile will participate in a 30-minute conversation moderated by TCM host David Karger. Elton and Brandi’s two other main collaborators on the album, lyricist Bernie Taupin and producer Andrew Watt, also will take part in the Q&A.
The documentary offers an intimate behind-the-scenes look at the making of each song on Who Believes in Angels? It marked the first time Elton has ever allowed cameras to capture the writing and recording of a full album.
A description posted on EltonJohn.com explains that the movie offers “fans an unprecedented, searingly honest insight into the emotionally turbulent creative process—breakdowns, breakthroughs, tears, torn up lyric sheets and all.”
If you can’t attend the screening event in person, the documentary and Q&A will be made available on YouTube starting April 5. For more info, visit 92NY.org.
As previously reported, Who Believes in Angels? was recorded in just 20 days during late 2023. All of the songs were created from scratch over the course of the sessions.
“It’s a radical act to seek out joyful and euphoric happenings,” Carlile said in a statement. “That is what this album represents to me.” John, meanwhile, described making the album as “one of the greatest musical experiences of my life.”
About Elton and Brandi’s CBS Concert Special
In related news, John and Carlile played a special concert celebrating Who Believes in Angels? on Wednesday, March 26 at the Palladium Theatre in London. The event, which also included a Q&A segment, was filmed for a CBS special that will premieres Sunday, April 6.
According to Setlist.fm, the show featured renditions of four songs Who Believes in Angels?, as well as several classic Elton hits and a couple of Brandi’s best-known tunes. In addition, the concert included covers of Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” and Jim Reeves’ “He’ll Have to Go.”
A recap posted by The Hollywood Reporter revealed that John and Carlile were backed by a band featuring three of their Who Believes in Angels? collaborators—Watt, Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith, and ex-Chili Peppers guitarist Josh Klinghoffer. Brandi’s longtime collaborators Phil and Tim Hanseroth also took part in the concert.
The interview was conducted by Schitt’s Creek star Dan Levy.
The CBS special, titled An Evening with Elton John and Brandi Carlile, will premiere April 6 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. It also will be available for streaming on Paramount+.
John and Carlile also are scheduled to be the musical guests on the April 5 episode of Saturday Night Live. The show airs on NBC at 11:30 p.m. ET/PT.
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