Charlie Puth reveals how Elton John’s ‘tough’ criticism has become a ‘wake-up call’

Sometimes you need a hero to straighten you out.

On Wednesday, Charlie Puth appeared on “The Ellen DeGeneres Show” and he took a turn with his new music and opened up about how Elton John helped him get there.

Read more: Charlie Puth sheds tears remembering the ‘worst breakup’ of his life as he announces new single ‘It’s Funny’

“I felt like my music in 2019 … the most important thing you can do, all the lyricists are watching right now, is important to tell the truth when you write a song, and I really wasn’t doing it,” Puth explains.

“The man who really awakened my senses is none other than Elton John.”

Puth describes meeting a man in a Los Angeles restaurant where the music icon was ruthlessly honest with him.

“He came up to me and said … ‘You know, your music sucked in 2019. It wasn’t good,'” Puth recalled, which left him speechless.

“And it was like a gut punch, but I thought so too,” he admits. “It simply came to our notice then. I was somewhat in denial. “

Then, with the epidemic shutdown, Puth explained that he was able to refocus on what was important.

“I decided that what I really needed to do was learn how to do it right,” he said.

Read more: Elton John shares a powerful message to his sons in celebration of his 75th birthday

Also on the show, Puth sits down at the piano to perform his new single “Light Switch”.