Sir Elton John set to land 9th number 1 album – without releasing new music-Emily Bashforth-Entertainment – Metro

Sir Elton John is still achieving incredible success, decades into his career (Picture: Jeff Hahne/Getty Images)

Sir Elton John may be decades into his career, yet he’s still scoring major accomplishments.

The Rocket Man hitmaker is set to claim his ninth UK number one album this week, despite not having recently released any new music.

Diamonds was originally released in 2017, and it’s thanks to a new deluxe version that the record has climbed its way back up again.

Sir Elton’s greatest hits compilation is a long-term fixture on the Official Albums Chart – having already logged a total of 325 weeks inside the UK Top 40.

But now, almost eight years since first hitting shelves and streaming platforms, the LP could finally reach the top spot thanks to the drop of a super deluxe edition Blu-ray and a limited Bad World diamond-effect LP.

So far, it has reached a peak of number two, which is also not to be sniffed at.

He looks set to bag another number one this week (Picture: Michael Tran/FilmMagic)

Should the album top the charts, though, it would join Sir Elton’s eight other UK number one albums: Don’t Shoot Me, I’m Only The Piano Player (1973), Goodbye Yellow Brick Road (1973), Caribou (1974), Elton John’s Greatest Hits (1974), Sleeping With The Past (1989), The Very Best of Elton John (1990), Good Morning To The Night with Pnau (2012), and The Lockdown Sessions (2021).

It comes after the Official Charts named Diamonds as the 11th biggest album of the last 10 years in the UK in 2024.

Sir Elton has stiff competition from a rising star, however, as Sabrina Carpenter, one of last year’s biggest pop sensations, could still be in with a chance of taking Short N’ Sweet to number one for a third week.

She currently trails Sir Elton, who retired from touring in 2023, by a little over 1,000 chart units in second place.

Whatever the outcome, though, we’re certain there isn’t any bad blood, as the two musicians – both icons in their own right at this point – have declared their admiration for one another via social media.

Recently, Sir Elton posted a snap alongside Sabrina, writing in his caption: ‘What fun to meet the fabulous Sabrina Carpenter! An incredible talent who is absolutely smashing it right now ’

But this was far from the first time Sir Elton has made it known he’s a fan of the Espresso hitmaker.

Sir Elton has plenty of number ones under his belt, pictured here with his 2021 trophy for Sausage Rolls for Everyone (Picture: Rocket Entertainment)

Last summer, Sir Elton’s husband, David Furnish, was quizzed on who he would like his partner to collaborate with in the future.

‘We had dinner on Sunday night with Chappell Roan,’ David began, once again proving how the musical legend is a champion of up-and-coming stars.

‘She is storming up the charts, and [has] such a brilliant, authentic pop voice, and a great lady who is so much fun,’ David praised.

Sir Elton then chimed in: ‘It’s the girls… Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan… all the girls are doing it, they’re cracking it, they’re killing it, and it’s so fantastic to see.

‘Olivia Rodrigo, Taylor Swift… it’s all the girls. It’s about time, and they’re all doing great stuff.’

Elsewhere in the top 10, Billie Eilish’s former chart-topper HIT ME HARD AND SOFT could return to the top five, while Fontaines D.C.’s acclaimed Romance is expected to log a third week in the top 10, up 12 places week-on-week from number seven. Romance peaked at number two last year.

Further down, Benson Boone’s debut album, Fireworks & Rollerblades, could rise inside the top 40 from spot 29, as could Calvin Harris’s singles retrospective, 96 Months, which is at 35.

He reassured fans that his eyesight isn’t ‘not as bad as it seems’ while presenting with Brandi Carlile at the Golden Globes (Picture: Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty Images)

Sir Elton began losing his sight after an infection last summer (Picture: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images)

Away from the music world, Sir Elton has been navigating a series of health woes over recent months.

Last month, he confessed that he had lost sight in his right eye due to an infection.

He also confessed that he now struggles to work because vision in his left eye is ‘not the greatest’ either.

Reflecting on his life in his upcoming documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, the award-winning star voiced his sadness that he would ‘not be around’ to see his sons get married.

However, appearing on stage at the 2025 Golden Globes over the weekend, Sir Elton offered reassurance to fans.

Ahead of handing out the best original score award, the Your Song vocalist said: ‘There’s been a lot of stories going on around about my regressive eyesight, and I just wanted to reassure everybody that it’s not as bad as it seems.’

He added, jokingly, while standing next to Brandi Carlile: ‘So, I’m so pleased to be here with my co-host — Rihanna.’

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