Bernie Taupin attends Elton John AIDS Foundation’s 34th Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party on March 15, 2026 in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)Elton John’s longtime songwriting partner Bernie Taupin is set to take part in the 2026 Americanafest Keynote Conversation, where he’ll be joined by Grammy winner Brandi Carlile. “Bernie Taupin’s contribution to songwriting is immeasurable,” Jed Hilly, executive director of the Americana Music Association, says. The Keynote Conversation is happening Sept. 16. The album is Taupin’s first album that he’s written entirely on his own.