Elton John Says ‘Tammy Faye’ Flopped on Broadway Because It Was “Too Political for America”

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Elton John thinks the Broadway production of “Tammy Faye” failed due to being perceived as too politically charged by American audiences.

The renowned musician-composer recently expressed his opinions to The Sunday Times about the brief stint of the Broadway production that showcased his tunes. The musical titled “Tammy Faye” portrayed the life story of the well-known televangelist who was associated with John’s music.

He mentioned that we’ve premiered two musical adaptations lately, with one failing miserably in America but another enjoying tremendous success in England, specifically at London’s West End right now – that would be ‘The Devil Wears Prada’.

John stated that ‘Tammy Faye’s’ release coincided with the U.S. election and centered around the argument that the blend of religion and government has negatively impacted America, a notion he attributes to Ronald Reagan. He felt it was overly political for American audiences who may not grasp irony. The play was previously staged at the West End in fall 2022 and received four nominations for Olivier Awards.

Last December, the musical that Elton John, known as the “Rocket Man,” both sang for and produced, came to a close. This was merely a few weeks after its debut at the Palace Theatre in New York City. The performance received a mix of mediocre to poor reviews and, unfortunately, could not attract an audience.

Before its grand premiere on Broadway, I couldn’t help but express my deep fascination for Faye to The Hollywood Reporter last year. When the opportunity arose to pen this musical, I leaped at it without hesitation, as I am captivated by individuals like her who have achieved remarkable success, faced adversity and loss, only to return triumphantly due to their unwavering faith and resilience, flipping the script on their own lives.

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2025-04-06 04:54