Elton John and Brandi Carlile have teamed up for a song called “Never Too Late.” The collaborative single was inspired by and written for the forthcoming documentary Elton John: Never Too Late. Directed by R.J. Cutler and David Furnish, the intimate and emotional exploration of John’s 50-year career is currently screening in select theaters and lands on Disney+ on December 13.
“Never Too Late” was born in the summer of 2023, as John was wrapping up his record-breaking ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour and considering his future. Carlile saw an early cut of the forthcoming documentary and was immensely moved.
“It was really amazing to see historic footage of Elton and the trajectory of his life. But as fantastic and as beautiful as everything was that we were all witnessing as fans, his life was also pretty lonely and difficult at times,” she said. “And I thought that the documentary illustrated a really important sentiment, because he might not have ever found his serenity and his peace, but he did find it, and he found it later in life. And it is never too late – too late to find the love of your life, or to start a family, or to change your mind about anything.”
The then-untitled film inspired Carlile to write a new song in the third person, taking influence from Bernie Taupin’s observational and empathetic songwriting voice.
“I’ve known for a long time how great she was but still, reading her lyrics and co-writing with her on the music was deeply moving. Especially given how personal it is to see, seeing my life on the screen, she just perfectly captured the essence of the documentary and why I stopped touring to spend more time with my family,” John said. “I’m constantly astonished by her craft, she can channel my voice in a way only Bernie has managed to do before. I know Bernie helped guide Brandi on that. The standard of her musicianship, her songwriting, her passion for what she does are sensational. She truly is one of the greatest there is.”
Cutler and Furnish were so moved by the song that they borrowed the lyric for the documentary’s title and closing credits music. “Never Too Late” is produced and co-written by multiple Grammy winner Andrew Watt, who produced several tracks on John’s chart-topping album The Lockdown Sessions including the Britney Spears-featuring bonus track “Hold Me Closer.”
Listen to the Elton John and Brandi Carlile song “Never Too Late” now.