Celebrating Elton John & Bernie Taupin: Behind the Scenes at the Gershwin Prize Event

In this episode of Pop Culture Weekly, Kyle McMahon is live at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington DC for the Library of Congress Gerwshine Prize for Elton John and Bernie Taupin. The legendary songwriting duo's music has touched hearts and shaped the pop landscape for over five decades, and were honored at the prestigious Gershwin Prize celebration, which is the highest award for songwriting. The gala event, a tribute to their extraordinary contributions to music, was nothing short of a red carpet spectacle, buzzing with excitement and reverence for these titans of the music industry. With red carpet interviews from Maren Morris, Annie Lennox, Brandi Carlile, Metallica and Elton John and Bernie themselves, get your exclusive behind-the-scenes look at this star-studded affair as this episode brings the electric atmosphere of the event directly to your ears.

And be sure to watch Elton John and Bernie Taupin: Gershwin Prize on PBS begining April 8th 2024. Check your local PBS station for details.

Kyle McMahon's Death, Grief & Other Sh*t We Don't Discuss is now streaming: https://www.deathandgrief.show/Chapter-One-The-Diagnosis-AKA-WTF/

---------------

Get all the Pop Culture Weekly podcast info you could want including extra content, uncut interviews, photos, videos & transcripts at: https://podcast.popcultureweekly.com

Watch celebrity interviews at: https://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon/videos
or Pop Culture Weekly YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/@popcultureweekly

Read the latest at http://www.PopCultureWeekly.com

Follow Kyle on:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/kmacmusic
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/realkylemcmahon
Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/kmacmusic
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/officialkylemcmahon
Website: http://www.kylemcmahon.me

Pop Culture Weekly twitter: http://www.twitter.com/popculturepodca

Episode Transcript

(00:01):
In this episode of Pop Culture Weekly, I am live in Washington, d
C. For the Library of Congress'sGershwin Prize that they are giving to Elton
John and Bernie Taupin. I amso excited. There's a tribute concert and
it's so awesome. We're going totalk to a bunch of the performers,
including Maren Morris and Annie Lennox,Metallica, and maybe even Elton and Bernie

(00:24):
himself. Let's go Welcome to popCulture Weekly with Kyle McMahon from my Heart
Radio, your pop culture news,views, reviews and celebrity interviews on all
the movies, TV music and popculture UKRABE Weekly. Here's Kyle McMahon,

(00:47):
what's up. Thanks for joining mehere on pop Culture Weekly. I am
live in Washington, d C.For Pbes's Library of Congress Gershwin Prize they're
awarding to Elton John and Bernie Talpinfor excellence in songwriting. It is the
highest prize that you can get.So there is a tribute concert with Maren

(01:10):
Morris, Charlie Pooth, Metallica,Garth Brooks, Annie Lennox, and maybe
even Elton and Bernie themselves. SoI'm here on the red carpet, it's
kind of crazy. Let's see who'sup first. Actually, it looks like
Maren Morris is up first. Let'stalk with Maren. Hi, thank you

(01:34):
for speaking with me. What doesthis moment mean for you? You know,
you're here honoring Elton John, You'reperforming like that's such an honor for
you and it's a testament to yourtalent as well. What does that mean
for you? I mean, asfar as songwriting goes, there is no
more top tier than these two.So as a songwriter myself having moved to

(01:57):
Nashville eleven years ago to be asongwriter, they just were always my template
on greatness and knowing them personally isjust such icing on the cake. And
you know, I feel like they'veworked their butts off for so many decades.
Elton did this massive like they're awell tour last year that wrapped and
now they just get to like sitand enjoy other people honoring them. And

(02:20):
I think that that's I mean ahuge honor for me to be one of
them. Next. Thank you,Love love love her. She's so sweet,
so talented. It's such a greatsongwriter herself. And it looks like
next up here comes Metallica. What'sJames, what's an Elton song you wish?
And Elton and Bernie song you wishyou wrote? Oh oh the one

(02:43):
we're playing right? What legends?I can't wait to see what they're going
to perform. And up next onthe red carpet, Brandy Carlyle. Let's
talk with her. Brandy, youare an incredible songwriter performer yourself. What

(03:07):
does this mean for you to behere honoring two of the greatest songwriters in
history? Honestly, man, it'sreally surreal. This is not a situation
I ever thought that I would findmyself in, especially performing the songs I'm
performing tonight, which you'll see whenI do. It's it's bringing me back
to time in my life when Ireally needed Elton and Bernie. I needed

(03:29):
their words and I needed them tohelp sculpt my worldview and show me the
future I could be a part of. And so yeah, it's going to
be heavy for me tonight. ButI'm so proud of them. The Griswind
Prize is the highest honor in songwriting, and it's really beautiful to see them
honored in such a profound way fortheir craft. I don't know that there's
ever been anybody better Elton John andBernie top in here. Brandy Carlisle,

(03:51):
Wow, she's so amazing. Isaw her with Pink on Pink Summer Carnival
tour last year, as you mayknow, and she is such an incredible
performer, songwriter, Artists, singersongwriter love her. Annie Lennox is coming
up next year is an icon.Let's talk with Annie, Annie. Will

(04:14):
we ever get a new album fromyou? Let's see. I'm not being
coy about it. I just don'tlike to participate, to anticipate. The
one thing so the one thing thatis difficult for me is touring. So
that's something I did constantly and atmy age now it's physically it's too demanding.

(04:34):
But I think there might be otherways to share my music and to
share the music that I'm probably goingto be making in the future, so
that I haven't stopped. I mean, I love doing to be here tonight,
to be invited, it's just athriller, to be honest. Yeah,
I can't wait till it comes out. Thank you. I just talked

(04:59):
to any let I am literally what. Annie Lennox is one of my favorites,
and she gave me an exclusive ona new album that is so awesome.
And here comes Elton and Bernie.Let's see what happens. What's up,
guys, Elton? What does thismoment mean for you? This way

(05:20):
guys, right here, Elon,Elton, right over here, Elton,
This is there a favorite song thatyou've both written together? Many of them?
Probably Sacrifice is my favorite. Yep, Bernie, It'salpin. This is

(05:42):
insane. Next and by the way, though I'm here at the taping the
show. The full show tribute concertis airing on PBS Monday, April eighth.
Check your local listings for specific times. But and then I'm sure it'll

(06:03):
be you know on PBS if youmiss it the first time, but make
sure you go and watch. Thisis incredible, what amazing talent honoring two
of the greatest songwriters of all time. Elton John was in the presence of
Elton John. I can't believe it. All right, I'm going into the

(06:23):
show. I love you guys,see you next time. We thank you
for listening to pop Culture Weekly.Here all the latest at pop culturewekly dot
com. Elton is traveling and thaton to please prayers and you can write

(06:53):
some PBS Monday April. Check yourlocal listings.