Elton John is a sensational singer from the 70s and his popularity never wavered. Known for hits like Candle in the Wind, I’m Still Standing, Rocket Man and many, many more. The singer is also known for his outfits during his concerts and is a flamboyant icon for many.
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Earlier this year (2024), Elton John announced he was retiring from touring, with his last performance being at Glastonbury Festival, for which he earned a massive amount, but he was still keeping himself busy. He explained that he had been ‘running around the world’ for most of his life, and he has now adapted to a slower life.
However, not everything has been smooth sailing for the Goodbye Yellow Brick Road singer and he has been dealing with several health issues over the years.
Elton John gives major health update to his fans
On Tuesday, September 2, 2024, Elton John gave a major health update on his Instagram. The singer shared a statement explaining that he has been dealing with a ‘severe eye infection’ which left him with ‘limited vision in one eye’.
He went on to add that he was healing but that is was an ‘extremely slow process’ and it would take a while for his vision to return. In his statement, he thanked his team of doctors as well as his family who have ‘taken such good care’ of him.
Elton John finished his statement by saying that he has spent the summer ‘recuperating at home’ and is ‘feeling positive’ about the way his health is improving.
He reveals has lost his vision
However, only a couple months later, the singer shocked fans when he said he could no longer see, while attending the gala production of his own musical The Devil Wears Prada. He said on 1 December:
I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight. So it’s hard for me to see it. But I love to hear it and boy it sounded good tonight.
Just a week before, he had revealed that he lost complete vision in his right eye and that the vision in his left eye 'wasn't the greatest'.
Amid the heartbreaking update, Elton John's friends are allegedly worried about the musician and want him to slow down. A source told The Sun that his workload has been concerning and his friends 'believe it is having a major impact on his health.' They added:
Quite a few people who he is close to have now encouraged him to slow down because he has been busier than ever this year.
He isn't getting any younger and his health has been deteriorating in the past few years.
The whole point of his farewell tour was that he would be home more once it finished, but he is still working to an intense schedule, something has to give.
Indeed, Elton John does not have a good track record when it comes to health and has dealt with various issues in the past.
Elton John’s other health issues
As many know, during the height of his fame, Elton John had a long battle against substance abuse, which he has been very open about and as of July 2024, he is proudly 34 years sober, as reported by Newsweek.
Moreover, Elton John has suffered a few ‘near-death’ experiences. Indeed, the singer was misdiagnosed with a colon infection which turned out to be appendicitis and then in 2017, he developed complications following surgery for prostate cancer.
The father-of-two revealed on NBC that he didn’t realise ‘how close to death’ he was, he told the outlet:
I didn't really know how close to death I was. I was ill because I kept saying, 'Please let me get well. I want to see my kids.' But I had tubes coming out of every part of my body, and it took me seven weeks to recover from that when I went home.
In 2021, the 70s singer underwent hip surgery following an injury, then in August 2023, Elton John suffered a fall in his home in the South of France and was briefly hospitalised.
In March 2024, the singer’s husband, David Furnish revealed that Elton had had knee surgery earlier in the year and he was scheduled for the second surgery by the summer. Indeed, he ended up having both knees replaced.
Elton John admits 'there's not much of me left'
On 1 October 2024, he opened up about his health struggles, saying that at this point 'there's not much that's left of him'. The 77-year-old singer was attending the New York Film Festival premiere of his new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, when he said in an emotional speech:
To be honest with you, there's not much of me left. I don't have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix. I don't have a prostate.
I don't have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee. In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip.
Despite all the hardships he has faced, Elton John remains positive and said:
But I’m still here. And I can't thank you [enough], you’re the people that made me.
He also thanked his partner David, along with their two boys for making him 'the happiest man in the world.' While his family has been his rock, John has previously admitted that his kids do have concerns regarding his health.
Elton John's children worry about him
Indeed, the Rocket Man singer revealed that his children 'worry' about his age. The 77-year-old is an older father to his two sons—Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11.
In the new documentary about his life, he revealed:
They think about my mortality. They worry about my mortality.
Not so much David, but me
Elton John's partner David Furnish is 15 years younger than him.
He added that he wants to see his children get married and have children of their own, but then made a tragic admission:
I don't think I'm going to be around for that. Who knows? You never know.
So that's why I want to use the best time — the best of my time — while I'm around.
Time together is so wonderful and so precious.
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Sources used:
Newsweek: ‘Elton John, 77, Announces 'Severe' Health Update’
Deadline: ‘Elton John Says He’s Partially Blind After “Severe Eye Infection”: “I Am Healing, But It’s An Extremely Slow Process”
CNN: ‘Elton John is adjusting to no longer touring after 50 years’
NBC: ‘Elton John opens up about contracting life-threatening virus: It 'nearly killed me'
Mirror: ‘Elton John will be 'break-dancing down carpet' after knee op, says husband’
Penn Live: ‘Elton John’s husband provides major update on singer’s health post-surgery’
People: Elton John's Kids ‘Worry About My Mortality’ at 77: 'I Don't Think I'm Going to Be Around for' Big Life Moments
People: Elton John Jokes 'There's Not Much of Me Left' Before Listing His Missing Organs: 'But I'm Still Here'
