LAST year he took his final bow after touring the globe for over five decades.
But rather than putting his feet up on one of his Gucci sofas with a well-earned glass of Perrier, Sir Elton John has started working on brand new music.
Music insiders have told The Sun the superstar has been secretly locked in a recording studio where he has been coming up with some fresh ideas for his next record.
The album will be his first in three years - with Rocket Man telling his label EMI he wants it to be released before the end of 2024.
Back in July, Elton officially called time on touring - a decision which caused panic among executives at his record label who feared their cash cow may have finally decided to stop moo-ing.
But luckily for them, despite enjoying a quieter life after taking his final bow, Elton isn’t ready to call it quits just yet.
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A source said: “It’s all been very top secret but Elton is back in the studio working on a new album.
“Time frames are always movable but the fourth quarter has been pencilled in terms of a release date.
“He adores music and that will never change but the desire to be as busy as he was has waned.
“Elton will still have a Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music and finger is very much still on the pulse; he just wants to slow down a bit and spend the time with his family but the new album is coming.”
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Since his debut album Empty Sky was released in 1969, Elton has released a further thirty studio records and four collaboration albums.
His last release was back in 2021 with The Lockdown Sessions, which featured songs with Miley Cyrus, Stevie Wonder, Nicki Minaj and Brandi Carlile.
Last year Elton teamed up with troubled Britney Spears for Hold Me Closer - a rework of his 1971 hit Tiny Dancer, which was mixed in with 1992 track The One and 1976 corker Don’t Go Breaking My Heart.
After finishing up his mammoth 330-date Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour in Sweden last summer, Elton said he was looking forward to having some time to himself.
He said on stage: “I’ve had the most wonderful career, beyond belief.
“Fifty-two years of pure joy playing music. How lucky am I to play music?
“You know how much I love to play live. It’s been my lifeblood to play for you guys.
“You’ve been absolutely magnificent. I will never be touring again, but I may do something in the future — a one-off thing — but that’s miles away.
“I want to appreciate my family, my sons, my husband, everything. I’ve earned it.”