LeAnn Rimes opens up about her bond with Sir Elton John, revealing he is "very protective" of her

As her career went from strength-to-strength, LeAnn recorded the duet 'Written in the Stars' with Elton for the stage musical 'Aida' and they developed a friendship from that moment, something she has valued.

Speaking fondly about the 'Rocket Man' hitmaker, LeAnn told Yahoo Celeb: "I was a kid when I sang with him so he's very protective and very sweet. We've been friends since I was 15. He called me to do a record together. And when Elton calls, you say yes. He's such a good dude, I love him to death. He's so personable and has always been so welcoming."

LeAnn appreciates 69-year-old Elton's honesty and says he has been a great help for her in navigating the trials and tribulations of the music business.

She said: "All stars build up a wall - you don't know who to trust and you find yourself separating from everyone sometimes. So he's always been very transparent."

LeAnn is no stranger to drama as her relationship with now-husband Eddie Cibrian began as an affair after they met on the set of TV film 'Northern Lights' and she also was in a legal battle with her own father Wilbur Rimes over financial irregularities in their working.

The 'I Need You' has been in the spotlight for so long she has just got used to not having any anonymity.

LeAnn - who is about to release her new album 'Remnants' in October 28 - shared: "I've never had any anonymity. Some of my friends get really uncomfortable when photographers take my picture but I just think it's normal. As I get older and I now that I have two stepsons who are nine and 13 - you see it's not normal at all and I've started to get more protective.

"But they're normal about it - they know that this is what they do and they'll play tricks on photographers sometimes - it's super cute."