Elton John and Brandi Carlile’s Who Believes In Angels? has hit No. 1 in the Official Albums Chart, giving the former his 10th chart-topper in the U.K (April 11).
The Andrew Watt-produced record was written and recorded by John and Carlile alongside John’s longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin. The collaborative record is Carlisle’s maiden No. 1 LP, and her first to reach the top 40.
It now joins John’s classics Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973) and Caribou (1973) as chart-toppers in his home country. His greatest hits collection Diamonds (2017) and The Lockdown Sessions (2021) have also achieved the feat in recent years.
Earlier this week the pair shared a short documentary on the recording of the LP. On April 19, the duo’s recent performance at London’s Palladium Theatre in the U.K. — which aired on CBS April 6 and is available to stream on Paramount+ — will be on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player. Following their performance on SNL last weekend, Madonna revealed that she and the Rocket Man had made amends following years of feuding. Madge shared the news on her Instagram, adding that John had asked her to “forgive” him for barbs in the press over the past two decades.
Sabrina Carpenter’s Short n’ Sweet rises two places (No. 2), while British indie-rock group Black Country, New Road have equalled its highest charting LP to date with the band’s third studio album, Forever Howlong (No. 3). The sextet have hit the top five twice previously on 2022’s debut For the First Time (No. 4), and 2023’s Ants Up There (No. 3). Forever Howlong is the band’s first since the departure of former vocalist Isaac Woods, and sees vocal duties shared by members Georgia Ellery, May Kershaw and Tyler Hyde.
Ariana Grande’s Eternal Sunshine finishes at No. 4, still riding high from the release of the Brighter Days deluxe edition, and Ed Sheeran’s +–=÷× (Tour Collection) closes the week at No. 5, receiving a bump following the release of new single “Azizam.”