How Elton John May Have Delayed Bernie Taupin’s Rock Hall Induction

Bernie Taupin will be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame this Friday (Nov. 3). The honor is long overdue, but the songwriter has a hunch why this has happened, and it has to do with Elton John.

When Sir Elton was inducted into the Rock Hall in 1994, he famously gave his statue to Taupin. John said, in part, "I'm kind of feel cheating standing up here accepting this, because without Bernie, there wouldn't have been an Elton John at all."

Taupin touched on this moment in a new interview with Cleveland.com. Taupin says, "That’s the big thorn in the paw because in a lot of people’s minds, that’s the reason I was not inducted before now, because certain elements of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame didn’t like the fact Elton brought me up on stage...and gave me his award"

He added, "So they just assumed that I already had the award so I didn’t need to be inducted myself -- which is pretty puerile, if you think about it, and pretty childish and churlish at the same time."

Sir Elton has been announced as one of the performers for the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction ceremony, which will stream live on Disney+ starting at 8 PM ET. It will be available to stream following the ceremony. ABC will also air the primetime special, 2023 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. This will feature performance highlights and standout moments and will air on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024 from 8:00-11:00 p.m. EST. That abridged special will be available the next day on Hulu and Disney+.

Also booked to perform are Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, H.E.R., New Edition, St. Vincent, Sia, Miguel, Common, Carrie Underwood, Adam Levine and Stevie Nicks.

The diverse list of 2023 inductees includes Kate Bush, Sheryl Crow, Missy Elliott, George Michael, Willie Nelson, Rage Against the Machine, the Spinners, DJ Kool Herc, Link Wray, Chaka Khan, Al Kooper and Don Cornelius.

Elton John has some absolutely iconic hit singles, but one of the great pleasures of being a big Elton John fan is finding the lesser-known gems.

We’re partial to his hit-free album Tumbleweed Connection from 1970 (as you’ll see), as well as his criminally underrated Songs From The West Coast from 2001, and a few of the diamonds in the rough from albums that you may have overlooked.

For this list, we’re going with the best version of each song, which sometimes means a live version. And in one case, an alternate studio version that you may not have heard before. Enjoy!

In 2024, Sir Elton has earned two major honors. In January, he became an EGOT winner.

John achieved the entertainment milestone thanks to winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger’s Stadium. The special streamed live on November 20, 2022 on Disney+. It was John's final show in North America. It was also the first time Disney+ presented a live global event.

Before his Emmy win, John won five Grammy Awards in his career. In 2000, he won a Tony Award for Best Original Score for Aida. Additionally, John has won two Oscars. The first came in 1994 for Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King. The second Oscar came in 2020 for "I'm Gonna Love Me Again" from Rocketman.

In March, just before his 77th birthday, John and his longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin were honored with the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song.

Per the Library of Congress's website, "The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song celebrates the work of an artist whose career reflects the influence, impact and achievement in promoting song as a vehicle of musical expression and cultural understanding."

Past Gershwin Prize recipients include Joni Mitchell (2023), Lionel Richie (2022), Garth Brooks (2020), Gloria and Emilio Estefan (2019), Tony Bennett (2017), Smokey Robinson (2016) and many more iconic musicians.

Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden said in a statement, "Elton John and Bernie Taupin have written some of the most memorable songs of our lives. Their careers stand out for the quality and broad appeal of their music and their influence on their fellow artists."