Which Elton John single honoring Princess Diana spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100?

Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind 1997” spent 14 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

John and lyricist Bernie Taupin rewrote their 1973 song “Candle in the Wind” after the death of Diana, Princess of Wales, in August 1997. The new version replaced references to Marilyn Monroe with lyrics honoring Diana and was performed at her funeral at Westminster Abbey.

Released as a charity single, the recording became an enormous international success. In the United States, it reached the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and stayed there for 14 weeks. Proceeds supported charities connected with Diana’s causes.

The title can cause confusion because the 1997 recording is not simply the original single reissued. It is a substantially rewritten version, often subtitled “1997” or “Goodbye England’s Rose.” The original “Candle in the Wind” was also successful, but it did not achieve the same chart performance.