Elton John is still every bit the “prima John-a” he was in 1999, and honestly, we’re not mad at it. The legendary “Tiny Dancer” hitmaker, 78, reportedly threw a fit backstage at Saturday night’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, sources told Page Six.
The show was running behind schedule right before Elton was due to perform, which apparently sent the “Rocket Man” crooner into a spiral. Behind the scenes at the Peacock Theater, John was said to be hurling insults at the organizers. One insider revealed, “He was yelling and asking things like, ‘What the hell is wrong with you people? Nobody knows what they’re doing!’”
Much like many travelers frustrated by airport delays during the government shutdown, Elton was concerned about travel hiccups—though his worries were a bit different. “My plane is waiting!” he allegedly barked as he stood by to pay musical tribute to the late Beach Boys mastermind Brian Wilson.
John’s mild tantrum brought to mind an infamous incident back in 1999 when he allegedly blew up at Tina Turner during a rehearsal for VH1’s *Diva’s Live ’99*. Turner explained in a 2000 *60 Minutes* interview with Mike Wallace, “I made a mistake when I needed to show him how to play ‘Proud Mary.’ The mistake is you don’t show Elton John how to play his piano.”
Turner went on to describe the episode: “John just exploded. Oh lord, it was like the past slapping me back in my face, truly before all those people, when all I was trying to do was get an arrangement from him. Then he stormed off and went into a rage.” (She noted that John eventually apologized for his behavior.)
Despite the backstage chaos on Saturday, John took the stage without his famous piano and performed without issue. “There was some scrambling and discussions in the hallway, but he went on stage, no problem,” another source told Page Six.
During the ceremony, John honored Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys co-founder who passed away in June at age 82, with a heartfelt cover of “God Only Knows.” He referred to Wilson as his “idol,” saying, “He was the one that influenced me more than anybody else when it came to writing songs on the piano. It was an evening we would never forget.”
Page Six has reached out to Elton John’s representative for comment.
https://pagesix.com/2025/11/11/entertainment/elton-john-throws-fit-backstage-before-honoring-brian-wilson-at-2025-rhof/