The doll has been described as a "bold collaboration between two cultural icons" by Mattel, the doll manufacturer.
Fans of Elton John will be pleased to know that their favorite singer now has his very own Barbie doll. Though the doll does not exactly look like him, it is an ode to the brilliance and talent of the Rocket Man himself. The new Barbie is a limited edition piece intended not just for young children to play with, but also for adults interested in collector's items. At present, it retails for $50 on the Mattel website. The doll manufacturer affirms on its website that the Barbie doll is a "bold collaboration between two cultural icons," CNN reports.
The Elton John-inspired doll wears a multi-colored bomber jacket that reads "Elton" across the front and has stars on its sleeves. The jacket also features rainbow stripes on its hem, perhaps in recognition of the artist's sexuality. Underneath the jacket, she has on a glittery top and flared denim embellished with Elton’s sparkling initials. Additionally, she will have rainbow-patterned platform boots and a purple bowler hat. Of course, one cannot forget about Elton's signature sparkly pink sunglasses, which covers the doll's face. The singer of the hit song 'Tiny Dancer' spoke of the newly-released doll in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine. He shared, "Barbie is an icon in her own right, so having her pay tribute to my work and personal style is a real honor. I hope that she inspires fans everywhere to fearlessly pursue their own dreams and limitless potential."
The doll was released just in time to honor the 45th anniversary of the singer's record-breaking two-day performance at the Dodgers Stadium in October 1975. The concert was, at the time, the largest concert ever held for a single artist. A whopping 100,000 Elton John fans were in the audience during the performance. "Barbie pays tribute to the legendary singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer Elton John. The most successful male solo artist of all time, Elton has amassed numerous gold, platinum, and even one diamond album, plus countless music industry achievements throughout the span of his career," the description of the doll reads.
It continues, "The Elton John Barbie doll is a bold collaboration that personifies two cultural icons and honors the extraordinary artistry and musicianship of a stellar performer." You can purchase your own Elton John Barbie doll on the official Mattel website or through Walmart's online store, where it has already received stellar reviews for how cute the doll is. Though some expressed discontent about the doll's gender, many were pleased about the collaboration.