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Elton John's Heartfelt Tribute to Songwriting Great Brian Wilson
9 Nov
Summary
- Elton John performs "God Only Knows" to honor late Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson
- John recalls first meeting Wilson, calling him a "true genius" who greatly influenced his own songwriting
- John and Wilson collaborated on each other's records over the years, with a deep mutual admiration
In a touching tribute, legendary musician Elton John performed an emotional cover of the Beach Boys' classic "God Only Knows" at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame's ceremony honoring the late Brian Wilson. Before taking the stage, John shared cherished memories of first meeting Wilson in Los Angeles, recalling how they were "scared shitless" to encounter their idol.
John praised Wilson as the artist who had the "biggest influence" on his own songwriting, particularly his piano-based compositions. The two musicians went on to become close friends, sitting in on each other's records over the years. "We loved each other," John said, expressing his deep admiration for the songwriting genius.
The Rock Hall event also featured star-studded tributes to other music icons the world lost in 2025, including a high-powered medley honoring Sly Stone performed by Stevie Wonder, Flea, Questlove, and others. Wilson and Stone were among the luminaries included in the ceremony's In Memoriam segment, which also paid respects to Ozzy Osbourne, Roy Ayers, and Marianne Faithfull.
