Elton John made a surprise appearance on US talk show ELLEN today (20APR06), joking he had flown to Los Angeles to look after Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes' new baby. The ROCKET MAN star will be a guest on the show on Monday (24APR06) and stopped by to promote his upcoming appearance.

A shocked ELLEN DEGENERES asked Elton what he was doing in the city so early and John quipped, "I came in to babysit for Tom and Katie, so I can't stay long. "I'm going to be here Monday, after I've washed a few nappies." Degeneres and John then discussed the baby's unusual name, SURI, with John quipping, "Suri - with the fringe on top," referencing famous OKLAMHOMA!