Elton John and Britney Spears’ collaboration voted 2022 Billboard fan favourite

By Mike Bedigan, PA Los Angeles Correspondent

Elton John has thanked Britney Spears for her “talent and collaboration” after their hit song Hold Me Closer was voted Billboard readers’ favourite song of 2022.

The track marked the US pop megastar’s return to music for the first time in six years and proved popular on both sides of the pond after its release in August last year.

According to Billboard the song received 45 per cent of the total votes, “likely thanks to fans’ voracious appetite for a much-deserved Britney comeback”.

The song peaked at number six on the Billboard Hot 100 chart following its release.

Reacting to the news with a post on Instagram, John wrote: “An enormous thank you to @billboard, it’s readers and all the fans of ‘Hold Me Closer’ who voted it their favourite song of 2022!!

“And thank you @britneyspears for your talent and collaboration in making this happen and the incredible @thisiswatt who shares this success!

“What an incredible way to kick off the year.”

Hold Me Closer mixes Sir Elton’s 1971 hit Tiny Dancer with his 1992 song The One, while parts of Don’t Go Breaking My Heart from 1976 also feature in the song.

The track also went on to reach number three in the UK charts.

John previously said he wanted the collaboration to “enlighten everybody” that Spears is “one of the great pop stars of the world”.

It comes as John prepares to stage the final UK performance of his last tour at Glastonbury festival in June.

In November 2021 he finished his final run of North America tour shows, with a three concert run at Dodgers Stadium in Los Angeles.