Jake Wesley Rogers Talks Elton John Friendship: 'He's an Incredible Ally to Have' (Exclusive)

"We check in on each other every now and then," Rogers says of his relationship with the legendary musician

Jake Wesley Rogers knows he can count on Elton John as a friend, musical confidant and "ally."

The singer spoke with PEOPLE ahead of his performance at the 2024 Reportin' For Duty event honoring Leslie Jordan and benefiting the EB Research Partnership in Shelbyville, Tennessee on Saturday, touching on his interactions with John.

"We check in on each other every now and then," Rogers, 27, says of their current relationship, which includes creative input as well.

Related: Elton John and Bernie Taupin to Receive 2024 Gershwin Prize for Popular Song

"I was kind of in the middle... I just finished writing my album. I sent him some songs," the artist adds, noting that he'll "see [John] in a couple of weeks for the fundraiser for his AIDS foundation."

Beyond music, Rogers noted that John, 76, is "just an incredible ally to have" as a whole.

To celebrate the 300th episode of his radio station Rocket Hour in 2021, John invited The Weather Station, Yola and Rogers to appear on the program. During that episode, the six-time Grammy winner compared the "Love You Like No Other" singer to a younger version of himself.

"You look like an elongated version of me in the 1970s with the shoes, the outfit, the glasses and everything," John said to Rogers at the time, to which the latter joked in response, "When I wear my platforms I'm like a gay monster."

The "Rocket Man" singer noted, "I got turned on to your music by Jake Shears of the Scissor Sisters who said, 'You've got to hear "Middle of Love,"' further complimenting Rogers by calling the song and its music video "such a great idea."

Another notable LGBTQ+ community member and ally that Rogers highlighted in his conversation with PEOPLE was the late Jordan, whom the artist remembers fondly.

"I can only speak particularly for me, but he would always just pop up with a word of encouragement," Rogers recalls of Jordan's role in his life. "I feel like whenever I needed it, he [was] a literal angel."

"And of course, everybody else just witnessing him bring such exuberance during a relatively dark time during Covid. It was sort of a highlight of that time," he adds.

All of which to say "it was an immediate yes" for Rogers to participate in Reportin' For Duty for the second time, calling it an "honor" to be tapped to perform both this year and for the 2023 edition of the event, which was held at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville.

Alongside a set from Rogers, 2024's Reportin' For Duty also featured intimate live performances from Eddie Vedder, Post Malone, Jelly Roll, The War and Treaty, Ruby Amanfu and Dan Spencer.

Vedder and Post Malone notably linked up on stage for the first time to perform Pearl Jam's "Last Kiss" and "Better Man." The "Sunflower" creator also shared a video on Instagram on Sunday of himself and Vedder strumming and singing an acoustic rendition of "American Girl" by Tom Petty backstage at the event.

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