Bernie Taupin has praised his “very savvy and wickedly funny” wife for elevating his career over the last decade – which saw him win an Oscar, be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and receive the Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize. The British lyricist is best-known for his long-time collaboration with Sir Elton John spanning more than five decades, with hits including Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Bennie And The Jets and Crocodile Rock. Taupin was honoured with an outstanding career achievement award during the 15th annual Hollywood Music in Media Awards ceremony in Los Angeles, which he attended with his wife, Heather Taupin, and daughter Charley Indiana May.
“I’ve had a sort of renaissance of sorts in the last 10 years, and that’s due in no simple part to someone who was every day going out and pushing for me and elevating everything I do and elevating my name, and that is the very savvy and wickedly funny, Heather Taupin,” the music star said of his fourth wife, whom he married in 2004. “She’s done more for me in 20 years than anybody ever did before.” It comes after Taupin and Sir Elton received the Library of Congress’s Gershwin Prize in March, months after Sir Elton inducted Taupin into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
In 2020, Taupin and Sir Elton won the Oscar for best original song for (I’m Gonna) Love Me Again from the biopic Rocketman. The track also won the best original song at the Golden Globes.
