Elton John tops UK album chart for first time in 22 years

LONDON: Elton John has scored his first number one album in 22 years, an electronic reworking of his hit songs, while Florence and the Machine clung to top spot in the singles chart for a second week running, the Official UK Charts Company said on Sunday.

John teamed up with Australian electronic duo Pnau for "Good Morning To The Night", giving his 70s catalogue a modern summer vibe. The album's title is also the name of the lead track, which has become an official song of the London Olympics.

Elsewhere at the top of the album chart, "Overexposed" by Maroon 5 climbed one place to number two, while U.S. rapper Nas made his British album chart top 10 debut with "Life is Good" which went in straight at number eight. (Reuters)

Elton John shortlisted for dad of the year award

Singer Elton John and his partner David Furnish have reportedly become the first gay couple to be shortlisted for Britain's dad of the year award.

Contactmusic.com reports they will compete against soccer star David Beckham and singer Rod Stewart.

Australian singer Peter Andre - who took the title last year - has also been nominated, along with British pop star Gary Barlow.

"Peter Andre, the reigning champion, has once again made the shortlist, so it will be interesting to see if he can become the first dad to win the title two years in a row," said a spokesperson of the contest.

The winner will be determined by public vote and announced on Britain's Father's Day next month for the Premier Inn Celebrity Dad of the Year prize.

Diana would be happy with Kate

Sir Elton John has claimed that Princess Diana would be pleased that her son Prince William is getting married to Kate Middleton.

The singer will be attending the royal wedding this Friday and insisted that the late Princess would be happy about his choice.

John admitted that the upcoming wedding will bring back memories of his friend's funeral 14 years ago.

During an interview on Good Morning America, he said: "The last time we were in Westminster Abbey, my heart sank when I saw those two young boys (Princes William and Harry) walking behind the coffin.

"I thought that was the hardest thing - I can't imagine at that young age having to walk in public, following your mother's coffin. And the next time we're in the Abbey, it's to see [William] walking up the aisle with a beautiful woman and the love of his life.

"I think it's the most joyous result and I'm sure Diana would be very, very happy about it... I think that she would be very happy with his choice. [Middleton] seems such a great girl, and they seem so much in love."

John added that his only concern for the couple is the media.

He said: "Enjoy it while you can because the press are going to give you a bumpy ride. They are going to love you. They are going to hate you. I just hope they love each other enough to stay away from all that.

"There's one thing in the world if I could get rid of, it's that negativity of the British press - that hatefulness, that horrible nastiness that we have... Yeah [the wedding] is a fairytale thing and people criticise it and say we're making too much of it. But it's about love, and in this day and age anything that's about love and positivity is a welcome relief from what's going on in the world."

Elton John 'planning royal dinner party'

Elton John is reportedly planning a star-studded dinner party with Prince William and Kate Middleton as guests of honour.

The singer has also invited David and Victoria Beckham to the event, which is due to take place at his Windsor home three weeks before the April 29 royal wedding, The Mirror reports.

"Elton loves entertaining and hosting people at his home," a source said. "He is touring America at the moment but flits between there and the UK, and comes to his Old Windsor home whenever a short break in his schedule allows.

"He has wanted to invite Kate and William for dinner for a while now to thank them for his wedding invitation. He always puts on the most incredible feasts fit for royalty anyway, so they should feel right at home.

"The Beckhams will be invited, but it depends on whether his club let him travel."

Elton John recently confirmed that he will attend the royal wedding with partner David Furnish.

BBC News defends Sir Elton baby report

The BBC has defended its decision to air an interview with a supporter of state-sponsored execution of gay men, arguing that the contribution was to give balance to news coverage of the birth of Sir Elton John's son.

On Tuesday, the BBC's News At Six bulletin featured a report on the birth of Sir Elton's first child with his partner David Furnish on Christmas Day.

The piece also featured an interview with Stephen Green, of right-wing group Christian Voice, who has previously supported the proposed death penalty for gay men in Uganda, reports the Pink News.

In the interview, which was repeated later on the BBC News channel, Green claimed that the baby was a "designer accessory" for Sir Elton, and said that depriving the child of its natural mother was "an act of pure selfishness".

The contribution of Green caused controversy among viewers, but a BBC spokesman said that it was included to reflect the wider debate on surrogacy for gay couples.

The spokesman said: "The practice of surrogacy is a sensitive subject and remains controversial in some quarters.

"Our short news bulletin featured Elton John talking about wanting to have a child and an opposing viewpoint. All sides of the debate on surrogacy have been widely reported in the news media and our coverage has reflected this."

In August, the BBC Trust dismissed complaints against a BBC News online discussion headline on the anti-homosexuality bill being proposed in Uganda, which controversially asked, "Should homosexuals face execution?"

'Adoption refusal broke my heart'

Sir Elton John has revealed that being deemed unsuitable to adopt two Ukrainian children broke his heart.

The singer and his partner David Furnish wanted to adopt two young brothers that they met on an orphanage tour last September.

A government minister said at the time that Sir Elton would be denied adoption rights as he was "not traditionally married" and too old.

According to the Sunday Mirror, the 62-year-old explained to The Oprah Winfrey Show: "There were too many laws that said we couldn't do it in the Ukraine and it broke our hearts because we fell in love with these kids.

"Life is all about learning, trying to change what you are. I think a child would possibly be the icing on the cake but, so far, no."

Elton John voted top gay icon of all time

The 62-year-old Grammy-winning pop star, who married his long-term lover David Furnish in a civil partnership ceremony in 2005, has been declared the male most respected by homosexuals, alongside the late actress Judy Garland who was named the most iconic female among the gay community, Contactmusic reported.

The male list was topped by gay men, including late Queen singer Freddie Mercury, British TV star Stephen Fry and 'Faith' hitmaker George Michael with the exception of footballer David Beckham, who is married to Victoria Beckham.
On the other hand, the female list was full of straight glamorous female stars like singers Kylie Minogue, Madonna and Cher rather than homosexuals.

"Interestingly only one of the men in the top 10 list of male celebrity gay icons isn't gay, David Beckham. And yet most of the women put on a pedestal by the gay community are straight," said a spokesperson from www.OnePoll.com which commissioned the survey of over 5,000 gay men and women.

"It just shows that to advocate a certain way of living, you don't have to live the lifestyle but simply be more accepting of those around you, the spokesperson added.