In a career spanning more than 50 years, Elton John has done it all. A chameleon in wide-rimmed glasses—his earlier nod to Buddy Holly—through feathered flamboyance, and more cinematic swoons, Elton John’s music has played across film, television, stage, and beyond, earning the artist more than 50 Top 40 hits and selling more than 300 million records.
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Ranking John’s “top” songs is no easy feat, from his ’70s heyday—1970 self-titled album birthing the hit “Your Song” with a string of hit albums to follow throughout the 1970s, introducing us to Madman Across the River track “Tiny Dancer” and “Rocket Man” off Honky Château in 1972—and on through the more pop-blown ’80s and 1990s, and collaborations in the present day, including duets with Sara Bareilles, Dua Lipa, and award show stunners (that Dido cover with Eminem at the 43rd Grammy Awards and singing “Tiny Dancer” with Miley Cyrus at the 60th Grammys) to his more surprising unions: Axl and Pavarotti!
Here, we take a look at some of Elton John’s best duets throughout the past five decades.
