Elton John Surprises Himself

Despite his incredible success as a pop singer and composer, 61-year-old Elton John is still amazed that he succeeded on Broadway.

"I'm looking up at the street and I'm seeing the sign for The Lion King, and I'm standing here and I'm thinking, `I had never thought in a million years I'd ever be standing in Broadway and talking about something I'd written for the stage," said John with great satisfaction.

His latest opus is a musical version of the 2000 film Billy Elliot, the story of a boy who yearns to dance but lives in the coal mining section of Northern England.

"It's a triumph over adversity. It's something beautiful coming out of something tragic," John said about the show, which has had been successful in London and Sydney, Australia and has just opened on Broadway.

John also claims that he'd rather write a musical than make an album because he enjoys having characters and story to work with.

"I love it - but I've got a lot to learn," he said. "I'm a novice at this."