When Elton John calls a song “one of the best ever written,” the music world takes notice. That’s exactly what happened when the legendary singer-songwriter phoned into The Howard Stern Show to celebrate Metallica’s 30th anniversary of their groundbreaking Black Album. His praise wasn’t casual — it was passionate, deliberate, and filled with the kind of reverence one artist rarely bestows on another.
A Meeting of Icons
The Black Album, released in 1991, cemented Metallica’s place in rock history with a sound that bridged heavy metal’s ferocity and mainstream accessibility. It gave the world anthems like “Enter Sandman,” “The Unforgiven,” and “Wherever I May Roam.” But the song that Elton singled out was “Nothing Else Matters” — the power ballad that became a rare crossover hit for the band.
“It’s one of the best songs ever written,” Elton said on the Stern Show. “It’s just a perfect piece of songwriting, from the structure to the melody to the emotion behind it.”
For Elton, the song’s greatness lies not only in its musicality but also in its vulnerability — a trait not often associated with heavy metal’s image.
Why “Nothing Else Matters” Resonated
Elton’s admiration runs deep. He described “Nothing Else Matters” as timeless — a song that could live comfortably in any genre without losing its impact.
“You could strip it down to just a voice and a piano, and it would still break your heart,” he explained.
It’s that universality that drew him to the idea of recording a new version. In Elton’s view, Metallica managed something rare: crafting a song that’s as emotionally honest as it is musically powerful.
The Miley Cyrus Connection
So how did Miley Cyrus enter the picture? According to Elton, she was the perfect choice for a collaboration. Miley had performed “Nothing Else Matters” before, and her raspy, emotionally charged voice brought a fresh intensity to the song.
“Miley understands the drama and the depth of it,” Elton said. “She’s fearless. That’s what you need for a song like this — someone who can dig in and not be afraid of its size.”
The two joined forces for a cover that blended Elton’s piano-driven grandeur with Miley’s raw vocal energy. Backed by an ensemble of musicians, including Metallica members themselves, the result was a rendition that honored the original while standing on its own.
Celebrating a Milestone
The collaboration was part of The Metallica Blacklist, a tribute album celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Black Album. The project featured more than 50 artists from across genres, each reinterpreting songs from the record. For Elton, participating was not just about paying tribute — it was about acknowledging Metallica’s place in the pantheon of great songwriters.
“Metallica have always been about more than just volume,” he said. “They have a musicality that people sometimes overlook because they play heavy. But when you listen to something like ‘Nothing Else Matters,’ you realize how much craft is in their work.”
Respect Across Genres
Elton’s comments struck a chord not just with fans, but with Metallica themselves. Frontman James Hetfield, who co-wrote “Nothing Else Matters,” has spoken about how personal the song is to him — a rare glimpse into his inner life at a time when vulnerability wasn’t typical for the band.
Hearing praise from Elton John, an artist with decades of chart-topping success and a reputation for emotional storytelling, was clearly meaningful. Hetfield admitted during the same Stern Show segment that Elton’s words left him “teary-eyed.”
The Magic of the Cover
When Elton and Miley’s version of “Nothing Else Matters” finally dropped, it was everything fans hoped for: haunting, powerful, and deeply respectful of the source material. Elton’s piano replaced the original’s guitar intro, giving the song a cinematic opening, while Miley’s voice carried both tenderness and grit.
Critics praised the cover for highlighting the song’s core emotion in a new light. It wasn’t an attempt to outdo Metallica — it was a love letter to the song’s enduring beauty.
More Than Just a Tribute
For Elton, this project was also about breaking down barriers between musical worlds. He’s never shied away from collaborating outside his own genre — from duets with George Michael and Eminem to recent work with pop stars like Dua Lipa.
“Music is music,” he said simply. “The labels don’t matter. If a song moves you, you play it. That’s what this was about.”
A Legacy of Mutual Respect
The Black Album’s 30th anniversary was a reminder of Metallica’s cultural impact, but Elton’s involvement gave it another layer — a cross-generational handshake between two very different titans of music. It showed that great songs don’t belong to one audience, one era, or one sound.
For fans, seeing Elton John and Miley Cyrus stand alongside Metallica in celebration of a single song’s power was a reminder of why music endures: because the truth inside a song — whether whispered or screamed — can cross any boundary.
And as Elton himself put it:
“A great song is forever. And ‘Nothing Else Matters’ is one of the greatest.”
