On the evening of November 8 2025, the 40th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony brought together a constellation of musical legends, new inductees and heartfelt tributes. Among the most moving moments came when Elton John took the stage for a deeply personal tribute to his friend and longtime inspiration, Brian Wilson.
The performance: “God Only Knows”
Elton John performed The Beach Boys’ timeless classic God Only Knows, delivering the song with reverence and emotion as a tribute to Brian Wilson.
Before launching into the performance, Elton spoke of his long admiration for Wilson:
“We were scared s**t-less because he was my idol… He was the one who influenced me more than anybody else when it came to writing songs on the piano. … We loved each other. I can’t think of anyone else I’d rather pay tribute than Brian Wilson and his family with this beautiful song.”
In his social-media statement following the event, Elton wrote:
“Brian Wilson was a musical genius. He wrote timeless pop songs with the most complex melodies, unlike anything ever written before. He was also a friend – and a great supporter from the very beginning of my journey as an artist.”
