Elton John bests Beyoncé, Taylor Swift to win Golden Globe

By MESFIN FEKADU

NEW YORK (AP) — After 52 years of collaborating, Elton John and Bernie Taupin have finally won a major award together.

The songwriting pair won best original song at Sunday’s Golden Globes for writing “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” from John’s “Rocketman” biopic.

“(It’s) the first time I’ve ever won an award with him, ever,” John said onstage looking to Taupin. “We never won a Grammy. We never did anything together except for this, and I’m so happy.”

John won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe with Tim Rice for “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” from the original “The Lion King.” John has also won five Grammy Awards.

Taupin won his first Golden Globe with Gustavo Santaolalla for writing “A Love That Will Never Grow Old” from “Brokeback Mountain.”

“This is really sweet because this is not just about a song we wrote for a movie, this is a song we wrote for a movie which deals with our relationship, and it’s a relationship that doesn’t happen very much in this town. It’s a 52-year-old marriage, so thank you,” Taupin said.

Together, the duo have crafted John hits like “Bennie and the Jets,” “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road,” “Rocket Man,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Candle in the Wind” and “Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting.”

“(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again” was one of 15 songs shortlisted for best original song at the 2020 Academy Awards, which will take place Feb. 9.

John and Taupin beat out Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, Cynthia Erivo and the wife-husband songwriting team Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez to win the Golden Globe.

“Thank you to all my fellow nominees, they’re all great songwriters,” said John.

He called making “Rocketman” one of the “most emotional moments in my life.”

At the Globes, “Rocketman” also picked up a nod for best motion picture, musical or comedy, while Taron Egerton is up for best performance by an actor in a motion picture — musical or comedy — for portraying John.