Sir Elton abandons husband in favour of American woman (4)
I believe the answer is:
joan
'woman' is the definition.
I cannot understand how the rest of the clue works.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for joan that I've seen before include "Darby and --, -- of Arc" , "'Saint - - ' (Shaw play)" , "- Plowright, actress" , "- Sutherland, Australian soprano" , ". . . . of Arc, French warrior saint" .)