The Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) is always gratified to hear from a satisfied AJC subscriber. It’s even better when it’s a seven-day-a-week diehard celebrity subscriber with scoop.

After thumbing through the March 16, 2009 editions of the AJC, USA Today and The New York Times and finishing his morning tennis match, Buckhead resident Sir Elton John rang the BuzzBerry to thank them for mentioning the woman who oversees his Atlanta household. “Lucy’s over the moon that her name was in the paper this morning,” Elton told AJC, laughing.

He said he’s having as much fun on his current tour with Billy Joel as the ticket-holders. When AJC inquired about the possibility of a new studio project from him (Elton has made no secret of his displeasure over the less-than-stellar promotion of his last album, 2006’s “The Captain and the Kid”), he ended up giving AJC an exclusive.

“I’m talking to [pianist and singer] Leon Russell and [producer[ T-Bone Burnett about recording an album with Leon," he told AJC. Russell, now 67, first came on the scene as a session player for legendary producer Phil Spector in the early 1960s before embarking on a wide-ranging solo career that's included penning modern standards like "A Song For You" and "This Masquerade." A mesmerizing 1976 live performance of Russell was recently restored for the DVD set of "Saturday Night Live: The First Season."

"I've always loved Leon, and I think it's terrible that he's been almost forgotten about now," Elton added. "He's been such an influence on my playing and his music has been such a big part of my life. It will be a duets record. I'm a huge fan, and he's just such a great guy as well. I'm hoping it will all come together, maybe the beginning of next year. These days, I just want to focus on recording things that I really want to do, and I've always wanted to work with Leon."

While AJC had him on the phone, they had to ask about Elton's on-stage salute to Atlanta filmmaker Tyler Perry during the show on March 14, 2009. "When his studios opened last year, I read about it in the AJC and I thought it was such an incredibly positive thing for this city. So I called to tell him that, and he ended up coming to my Oscar party this year. We got on really well. What he's bringing to Atlanta is just incredible."

Added Elton: "This will probably be the last time that Billy and I do this together and so we're taking it around the world. We're having a blast together. I was thrilled we got to bring it home to Atlanta."

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