Taupin says he and John have “never sort of played inside the box,” allowing their music to transcend genre and time
Credit: Tibrina Hobson/Getty
NEED TO KNOW
- Bernie Taupin credits his and Elton John’s lasting partnership to their shared love of music and independent lives
- Taupin says their timeless songs resonate with new audiences and can be interpreted across various musical genres
- His upcoming album, The Sea Has No Mercy, marks his first solo project in nearly 40 years and will be released in October 2026
Bernie Taupin knows the importance of a song, and its ability to transcend time.
While speaking with PEOPLE ahead of the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards show at the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Taupin shares why he feels as though the formula that he and Elton John worked out both as friends and collaborators decades ago has resulted in a timeless discography.
When posed with the question of relationships that run deep, Taupin laughs and responds quickly that the key to his and John’s remaining so positive over the years has been “keeping out of each other’s hair.”
Credit: Kevin Mazur/Getty
Adding on that, the legendary songwriter, 76, notes that a “love of music” keeps the two artists intertwined.
‘We grew up loving all kind of music, all forms of music, all genres. And so, I think that’s what’s connected us and also the fact that we don’t live in each other’s pockets,” Taupin explains. “You know, we live very different lives. We’re very different people, but we are connected through music and our love of it and love of working together.”
Taupin and John first met in 1967, when they each answered an advertisement in the New Musical Express posted by Liberty Records, which led to John being handed an unopened envelope of submitted lyrics written by Taupin. Their musical relationship blossomed in the years that followed, with Taupin penning large swathes of John’s catalog, including standout tracks “Your Song,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” and “Bennie and the Jets.”
Reflecting on if there is one set of lyrics he composed that have changed meaning now as opposed to when he penned them, he candidly shares, “I don’t know if, if I can think of one particular song, but I think our body of work continues to have relevance and find a new audience every, every decade.”
“As I say, younger people are finding new ways to interpret them,” Taupin continues. “And I think the other thing is that they can be interpreted in all kinds of genres, you know? We’ve never, we’ve never sort of played inside the box. We’ve always tried to work in different genres. We’ve done things that are bluesy, we’ve done things that are country, we’ve done things that are pure pop … but just always being innovative.”
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At the core of his musicianship lies an innate interest in the nuanced aspects of humanity, the artist explains, citing “Looking around me and drawing inspiration from people in everyday walks of life” as a creative conduit.
“I’ve always been an observer, a storyteller, and I just — I just love people. I mean, I’m not a real people person, but I’m very interested in people, if that makes sense. I love seeing what people do. I love being in airports and watching people and going, where they’re going, what do they do? Everything, everything that I’ve ever written is sort of inspiration from that,” Taupin tells PEOPLE.
Credit: Tibrina Hobson/Getty
Taupin, who took to the stage at the 2026 Americana Honors & Awards to present the award for song of the year to Brandi Carlile for her track “Returning to Myself,” has also been keeping busy musically. His third single leading up to his new album The Sea Has No Mercy, which is scheduled for full release on Oct. 23, 2026 and marks his first solo project in 40 years, releases on Friday.
The new track follows the previously released singles “The Sea Has No Mercy” and “One Hundred Ways,” the latter of which features vocals from his daughter, Georgey Devon Taupin. In Taupin’s words, the full 10-track album will be delivered as a “late-life manifesto” of sorts, inspired by his recent autobiography, Scattershot.
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