Speaking with reporters from Parade Magazine, Sir Elton said in the interview that he admired that son of God for his desire to spread love and peace amongst the world. The husband of David Furnish, the Canadian film-maker, Sir Elton paid tribute to the Christian Messiah’s profound insightfulness into the human condition. His understanding of human emotions and principals of benevolence elevated his to a higher intellectual plain according to the Rocket Man singer, who has a history of songs that pay tribute to cultural and personal icons.

Sir Elton claimed that only a man of supreme intelligence could solve or comprehend human problems the way Jesus could, saying that he believed him to be both gifted and gay. The act of forgiving his crucifiers even while on the cross was evidence enough for Elton that Jesus was truly beyond mere mortals. Sir Elton also lamented the world in which we live in today – where a gay man in the Middle East would be a dead man walking – and that people could be so cruel towards one another.

Not surprisingly, the Catholic League in the US – the largest Catholic rights organization in the country – slammed the singer’s assertions, saying that Sir Elton’s comparing of the saviour to a super-intelligent man trivialized him into some type of game show player. They also decried any suggestions of homosexuality on the part of Jesus Christ, calling such behavior sexually deviant.

Rumours have been hurling around the last day or so that the two were preparing a duet for the annual gala ceremony, which is set for the Los Angeles Staples Center on January 31.

Details about the song to be performed by the pair have yet to emerged although sources has claimed that the performance promises to one of the most memorable in the event’s history.

Asked about plans for the Sundance Film Festival in Utah this week, Sir Elton didn’t deny the speculations.

As a reconciliatory gesture and to dispel Eminem’s false homophobic stance, Sir Elton collaborated on stage with the famous rapper at the 2001 Grammy Awards.

The 52nd annual Grammy Awards will also include performances by Pink, Beyoncé, Black Eyed Peas and Taylor Swift.

Meanwhile, it’s been reported that X Factor guru Simon Cowell asked rising star Lady GaGa to take part in the US version of the famous talent programme.

The pop music mogul is said to want GaGa as a judge for the first edition of the forthcoming talent series.

GaGa and Cowell have already collaborated professionally as the ‘Bad Romance’ star performed on the X Factor last year after being approached by music mogul.

But it’s believed that Gaga’s schedule won’t permit the singer tohave regular appearances on the show.

A source close to Cowell said that Simon loves Lady Gaga and really appreciates her energy. So far, negations have reported to be going on to establish was kind of involvement could Gaga have with the show.

X Factor America is scheduled to be launched at the end of 2011.

London’s Covent Garden shop is being organised to sell items of clothes and fashion accessories directly from the couple’s flamboyant wardrobes, as of Saturday for an entire week.

Sir Elton claimed they always get an awesome response from the British public, adding that it really strikes a chord items everyone of us purchase and enjoy can provide some help to someone in dire need of support, specially at this time of year.

David also said that they are making available some of their sunglasses plus a selection of other accessories which would make fun Christmas gifts.

The fashion items will include clothing worn on stage by Sir Elton, a selection of Furnish’s favourite shirts, sunglasses, belts and luggage.

A pop up shop is type of store temporarily active for a specific reason.

The shop is set to be restocked every day until all the pieces will be sold. The couple are planning a clearance event to take place for all the unsold stock next Saturday.

All funds amassed during the sales event, titled Out The Closet, will be donated to the Elton John Aids Foundation.

This is the Foundation’s fifth pop up shop to be held. During past events, the shop has attracted shoppers such as Elle Macpherson, Elizabeth Hurley and Natalie Imbruglia.

The last Out The Closet, held in 2002 on Regent Street, saw about 15,000 items being sold as that event raised £400,000 for Elton’s Foundation.

Elton’s partner David Furnish claimed that parting with the designer clothing was extremely difficult since they were created by a friend, designer Gianni Versace who died from gun shoot wounds in 1997.

But Furnish said they’d opted to sell the precious clothing in order to raise funds for The Elton John Aids Foundation. Forty-seven-year-old David took part in the Out The Closet charity sale where he has already been through his own wardrobe.

He said that the couple had been holding on to some things. Certain objects they just couldn’t consider giving away, such as silk printed Versace shirts. Elton said of them not to put them for sale as they’re so imbibed of the spirit of Gianni Versace and he was such a fine friend. But still, a few of these ended up into the last sale and they proved to be extremely popular.

Furnish said they just sold so well and they’re very collectable for a die hard fan, or for fashionista.

The filmmaker believes that this edition of the Out The Closet sale is likely to be the last.

In 2002, when the pair sold some items at the event, it raised £400,000.

He insisted it wasn’t difficult for the couple to say goodbye to some of their clothes, adding that when one realises how much of an impact a sale may have on people’s lives, it makes all the difference.

He said he and Elton have several pieces of beautiful clothing in their wardrobe but they cannot all be worn at once. He added that that’s the point of holding on to stuff when others may enjoy it more plus the fact that it raises funds for a charity.

The sale is scheduled for a December 12 opening at the Flower Cellar in London’s Covent Garden. The event will last until December 19 and will be restocked every day until all is sold out, with a clearance sale set for the last day.

A friend of the singer-guitarist Jerry Cantrell suggested the idea and after initially rejecting the plan, he took the plunge.

“I remember laughing and saying, ‘Yeah, I’ll get right on that,’” Cantrell said.

“But I decided it was worth trying.” As luck would have it, the famous glam piano man turned out to be an “admirer” of Alice in Chains.

They recorded the title track for the new album, Black Gives Way to Blue, in a Las Vegas studio, Sir Elton on backing vocals and piano.

Elton said: “I was very flattered and couldn’t resist,” he said. “[It's] a beautiful song.”

Black Gives Way to Blue is the band’s first album in more than 19 years – and their first since lead singer Staley died of a drug overdose in 2002.

“It takes a big set of fucking balls — four sets of balls — to take on a challenge like this,” Cantrell commented earlier this year. “We did it for the same reasons we made music before.”

Black Gives Way to Blue is set for release on 29 September.

We would like to thank www.guardian.co.uk for quotes used in this article.