Esteemed songwriting pair Elton John and Bernie Taupin are set to be jointly honored with this year’s Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, a highly esteemed music award in the United States. Established by the Library of Congress in 2007 to pay tribute to the iconic songwriting duo George and Ira Gershwin, the award recognizes outstanding contributions to the world of music.
Dr. Carla Hayden, the Librarian of Congress, noted that John and Taupin embody the essence of George and Ira Gershwin, representing legendary songwriting teams that have left a lasting impact on generations of music enthusiasts. This marks the third occasion since its inception in 2007 that the Gershwin Prize will be bestowed upon a collaborative pair of artists.
Previous recipients of the Gershwin Prize include Gloria and Emilio Estefan in 2019 and Burt Bacharach and Hal David in 2012. The list of honorees, primarily comprising A-list celebrities, features renowned names such as Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, Tony Bennett, and Willie Nelson. In 2023, Joni Mitchell became the third woman to receive the Gershwin Prize, while Sir Paul McCartney was the inaugural British musician to be recognized in 2010.
Expressing his gratitude, Bernie Taupin conveyed, “To be in a house along with the great American songwriters, to even be in the same avenue is humbling, and I am absolutely thrilled to accept.” Elton John added, “It’s an incredible honor for two British guys to be recognized like this,” highlighting the unexpected nature of such recognition after 56 years of collaboration.
Elton John and Bernie Taupin first crossed paths in 1967, responding to a newspaper advertisement seeking songwriters. Their enduring partnership has yielded albums with sales in the hundreds of millions and iconic hits like “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”
Describing their creative process, the Library of Congress noted, “Their process seems simple: Taupin writes lyrics and sends them to John, who goes to work at the piano and creates a song.” Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden shared her personal favorite, “Bennie and the Jets,” emphasizing the transcendent nature of their music.
Scheduled for a national broadcast on April 8th from Washington, D.C., a televised tribute concert will celebrate the contributions of Elton John and Bernie Taupin to the world of popular song.
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