Winner of Best New Artist at the 60th GRAMMY Awards, Alessia Cara felt it was amazing to be chosen to sing "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" for Elton John on the April 10 TV concert special "Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Tribute."
"My mom came from Italy," shared Cara, who was born Alessia Caracciolo in 1996. "She didn't really speak a lot of English, so for her melody was such a big thing, and [Elton John's] melodies are beautiful. The way that he played, she was always so amazed by him."
Appearing on Elton John's 1983 album, Too Low For Zero, "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" was a hit before Cara was born but "we always grew up with him around the house," she said.
To be chosen to honor John during the upcoming TV special had a special place in her heart.
"It was so important for me to be here," continued Cara, who also recorded the song on the Elton John-curated Revamp album. "To show that he even knows who I am, that he wants me to sing his song and thinks I can do it the slightest bit of justice is amazing.
"Him sitting there, watching me, felt like a really big milestone."
John himself set the standard for Cara during rehearsals when he snapped on his A-plus game.
"He came on and he's like, 'Alright, let's do a rehearsal,'" she said. "He started playing as if he was playing a stadium show — and there was no one there. … It blew my mind."
"Elton John: I'm Still Standing — A GRAMMY Salute" will feature performances by some of music's biggest names, including Cara, Miley Cyrus, Kesha, Lady Gaga, Miranda Lambert, John Legend, Little Big Town, Chris Martin, Shawn Mendes, Maren Morris, Ed Sheeran, Sam Smith, and SZA.
Tune in April 10 at 9 p.m. ET/PT for this two-hour concert special, only on CBS.
