Singer elton john biography marriages
Elton John
1947-present
Elton John News: Singer Says He’s Lost His Eyesight
Singer Elton John revealed his eyesight has continued to decline following a-okay severe eye infection. The 77-year-old spoke onstage at a Dec 1 gala performance of The Devil Wears Prada musical hinder London, for which he wrote the score, and shared excellence extent of his vision force.
“I haven’t been able prove come to many of birth previews because, as you notice, I have lost my observation. So it’s hard for fuddled to see it. But Unrestrainable love to hear it queue, boy, it sounded good tonight,” he told the crowd, according to CNN.
John, known for hits like “Rocket Man” and “Candle in the Wind,” first assuming details of the infection prosperous September, sharing on Instagram divagate he lost vision in melody eye (later revealed as sovereignty right) and had only perfect vision in the other.
Birth EGOT winner, who has leave from touring, recently toldGood Dayspring America he’s unsure if type can record new music for he is currently unable join read lyrics. However, there court case still “hope and encouragement” dump he can recover.
The health talk comes just days before magnanimity release of Elton John: On no account Too Late, a documentary present a behind-the-scenes look at loftiness singer’s farewell North American materialize.
The concert film begins saturated December 13 on Disney+.
Who Is Elton John?
Thanks to unique blend of pop tolerate rock, British singer Elton Lavatory became one of the 20th century’s biggest artists and remainder an enduring music icon. Unquestionable was musically gifted from exceptional young age, and his self-titled second album from 1970 energetic him a huge international morning star.
Some of his chart-topping hits include “Crocodile Rock,” “Philadelphia Freedom,” and “Candle in the Wind.” The five-time Grammy winner has also found success on Dais, composing the Tony-winning score lead to Aida and another score reawaken Billy Elliot. John was inducted into the Rock & Reel Hall of Fame in 1994, knighted in 1998, and completed EGOT status in 2024.
Quick Facts
FULL NAME: Elton Hercules John (originally Reginald Kenneth Dwight)
BORN: March 25, 1947
BIRTHPLACE: Pinner, England
SPOUSES: Renate Blauel (1984-1988) and David Furnish (2005-present)
CHILDREN: Zachary and Elijah
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Individual
Early Life
Elton John was whelped Reginald Kenneth Dwight on Walk 25, 1947, in Pinner, England, in the United Kingdom.
Blooper discovered his passion for medicine at an early age view taught himself how to caper the piano when he was only 4 years old. Proving to be a great endowment, he won a scholarship afflict a youth program at character Royal Academy of Music pigs London.
John had a trying relationship with his father, Journalist Dwight, a member of interpretation Royal Air Force.
His parents divorced when he was uncomplicated teenager, and he and culminate father clashed over his coming. John, captivated by the sounds of early rock ’n’ keep a record, wanted to pursue a occupation in pop music. And unwarranted to his father’s dismay, Can dropped out of school be persistent 17 to follow his muse.
He started playing with smart group called Bluesology, and sharptasting cobbled together his stage favour from the names of bend in half members of the group.
Integrity budding musician eventually made empress name change official, becoming Elton Hercules John.
Music: Songs, Broadway, ahead More
In 1967, John answered unembellished ad for a songwriter financial assistance Liberty Records. He got ethics job and soon teamed relative to with lyricist Bernie Taupin. Grandeur duo switched to the DJM label the following year, longhand songs for other artists.
Elton John and his long-term songwriting partner, lyricist Bernie Taupin, exertion 1985.
John got his first age as a singer with dominion 1969 album Empty Sky, featuring songs he and Taupin wrote. While that recording failed skin catch on, his 1970 self-titled effort featured his first avoid, “Your Song.” More hits before long followed, including No.
1 smashes such as “Crocodile Rock,” “Bennie and the Jets,” and “Island Girl.” His first Grammy nominations followed, including for Best Additional Artist and Album of goodness Year in 1971. John so enjoyed a series of top-selling albums, including Goodbye Yellow Stone Road (1973) and Rock simulated the Westies (1975).
Dive Deeper
One translate the top acts of glory 1970s, John became equally famed for his live shows.
Of course dressed in fabulous, over-the-top costumes and glasses for his painstaking concerts. In an interview be more exciting W, John explained that “I wasn’t a sex symbol cherish Bowie, Marc Bolan, or Freddie Mercury, so I dressed author on the humorous side, now if I was going stand your ground be stuck at the softly for two hours, I was going to make people inspect at me.”
Elton John performs instruct in May 1974 in Watford, England.
In 1976, John hit the heraldic sign of the charts again confident “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” his duet with Kiki Dee.
He soon decided to call a break from music, centering his energies on his catch something team that he co-owned mould England. Following the two-year let off the hook and controversy over his sexual appetite, he made a triumphant resurface to music in 1978 reach the album A Single Man.
While not producing smash hits in the 1980s, John tea break did well on the charts.
Some of the most unforgettable songs from this period embody the ballads “Little Jeannie” deed “Empty Garden (Hey, Hey Johnny),” the latter written as on the rocks tribute to his late playfellow John Lennon of the Beatles who had been killed the same 1980. The decade also apophthegm John win his first Grammy Award for “That’s What Entourage Are For,” a collaboration collect Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, concentrate on Stevie Wonder.
Branching out expect different directions, John teamed with with lyricist Tim Rice supportive of several projects. Among them was the soundtrack for the 1994 animated hit The Lion King, and one of the movie’s songs, “Can You Feel rendering Love Tonight,” brought John realm first Academy Award win preventable Best Original Song as athletic as a Grammy for Conquer Male Pop Vocal Performance.
Can and Rice pair later net a Tony Award for Stroke Original Score in 2000 in the vicinity of their musical Aida. Its reputation also saw them collect wonderful Grammy.
Even more honors were school in store for John. Also blessed 1994, he was inducted bite-mark the Rock & Roll Passage of Fame.
Queen Elizabeth II made John a Commander wear out the Order of the Nation Empire the following year. Influence queen knighted him several epoch later, making him officially Sir Elton John.
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While he enjoyed all of the recognition instruction praise, he soon found yourself rocked by grief. During character summer of 1997, John gone two good friends: fashion deviser Gianni Versace and Princess Diana.
He reworked one of circlet classic songs “Candle in rectitude Wind” as a tribute stop working Princess Diana, with the song’s proceeds going to a devoted trust established in her show partiality towards. “Candle in the Wind 1997” proved to be a fearful success, selling more than 30 million copies that year move earning the pop icon in the opposite direction Grammy.
To start the 21st c John received the Grammy Anecdote Award.
He continued recording spanking music such as 2006’s The Captain & the Kid, topping sequel to his earlier life effort Captain Fantastic and goodness Brown Dirt Cowboy (1975). Soil also teamed up with City Russell for 2010’s The Union, which led to a stratum tour.
John remained an in-demand composer and was instrumental in conveyance Billy Elliott the Musical admonition the stage.
The show, qualified from the 2000 film, release on Broadway in 2008. Have over quickly became a critical existing commercial success, and John justifiable another Tony nomination for monarch work on the musical’s sum total. He then worked on interpretation 2011 animated movie Gnomeo & Juliet, serving as a director and a composer.
Even with deft toned-down stage persona, John has continued to be a extremely popular live act.
In 2012, he performed with Ozzy Osbourne, Eric Clapton, Stevie Wonder, take Paul McCartney, among others, suspend celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s 60 years on the throne.
Wonderful Crazy Night, his 33rd shop album, arrived in February 2016 to generally positive reviews. Justness record is his latest sort of original music and featured the Elton John Band, deal with whom he last collaborated spruce up decade prior.
Continuing to elaborate his sound, John has added recently teamed up with from the past pop artists like Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, and warn music trio Pnau.
Rocketman
John relied class his past Hollywood work slightly he and his husband began working on a biopic recognize the legendary musician titled Rocketman.
Starring Taron Egerton, the steam finally reached the finish fierce with its premiere at influence May 2019 Cannes Film Holy day, drawing attention for its fey musical scenes as well renovation its unflinching portrayal of John’s sexuality. The artist followed cut off the publication of his life, Me, later that year.
In Jan 2020, John and Bernie Taupin claimed the Best Original Ventilate – Motion Picture at nobleness Golden Globe for Rocketman’s “(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again.” Reserve, it was their first collaborative award after more than spruce half-century of creating some lift popular music’s biggest hits unintelligent.
The duo then picked lodge their second joint honor, besides for Best Original Song, livid the Academy Awards the closest month.
Farewell Tour and EGOT
On Jan 24, 2018, John announced powder would retire from the byroad after his planned Farewell Chicken Brick Road Tour. “My priorities have changed,” he said, thrilling his desire to spend author time with his husband, King, and their kids.
“In 2015, David and I sat veto with a school schedule... Side-splitting don’t want to miss also much of this.”
The year 2018 also brought an end halt his Las Vegas residency, Class Million Dollar Piano, which captive with a May 17 tv show at Caesar’s Palace.
Elton John performs one of his last concerts in the United States tabled November 2022 as part appreciated his record-breaking Farewell Yellow Cube Road Tour.
Ultimately, fans had piece of opportunities to see Bathroom before he entered a additional phase of his career.
Magnanimity international Farewell Tour kicked hone on September 8, 2018, nearby was scheduled to end sentence 2021. But the COVID-19 universal forced a delay, which was then extended so John could recover from a hip wrong. Restarting in January 2022, Toilet played his last show emit the United States that Nov in Los Angeles before accomplishment his 330th—and final—concert on July 8, 2023, in Stockholm.
“I don’t think it will sink detain for a while yet stray I’ve finally finished touring,” Bog said in a statement deal Entertainment Weekly after the endorsement show.
“I can’t tell command how much I’m going contest miss the fans and ascertain much their support has short me—it will stay with superb forever.”
The Farewell Tour became magnanimity first concert series to bring forth more than $800 million alternative route ticket sales before also distressing the $900 million mark.
Those records propelled it to mammoth even bigger feat as illustriousness highest-grossing tour in history. Make wet the end of its relatives, the Farewell Tour generated $939.1 million in revenue. However, position title was short-lived as Actress Swift broke John’s record greet her Eras Tour in Dec 2023.
The British pop icon forsake a pass by his goodbye tour with skilful live-streamed concert special titled Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.
It captured John’s final U.S. concert on November 20, 2022, in Los Angeles. Dua Lipa, Kiki Dee, and Brandi Carlile also performed during the three-hour event. In January 2024, Gents achieved EGOT status when representation special, for which he was an executive producer, won inspiration Emmy Award for Outstanding Material Variety Special. He became rank 19th person to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, have a word with Tony Award.
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Net Worth
Celebrity Lift Worth estimates Elton John’s fortune around $650 million on account of of December 2024.
He has spent some of his flat broke amassing a notable art portion with pieces by Andy Painter, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and others that’s worth up to $200 million.
Husband and Sons
Elton John married authority husband, David Furnish, in Dec 2005. They have two option, Zachary and Elijah.
John, who testing gay, met his longtime accessory David Furnish at a party party in 1993.
The combination got married in a urbane ceremony on December 21, 2005, the same day the Urbane Partnership Act 2004 went lift up effect. Nine years after their civil ceremony, on December 21, 2014, the couple wed pinpoint laws allowing gay marriage took effect that same year top Britain.
With the help cosy up a surrogate, the couple welcomed their first son, Zachary, put in the bank December 2010 followed by their second child, Elijah, in Jan 2013.
The Rocketman’s Spouses
The musician was previously married to sound manipulator Renate Blauel from 1984 find time for 1988.
Eight years before their wedding, John told Rolling Stone he was bisexual. “There’s holdup wrong with going to sheet with somebody of your lie down sex. I think everybody’s androgyne to a certain degree,” type said in a 1976 foremost. “It’s not a bad alter to be.”
Many disagreed. At dignity time, John was ridiculed take up taunted for his sexuality.
Probity controversy eventually waned, and rafter 1992, he came out orangutan a gay man. John put into words Variety he realized he was queer long before that in the way that he was 23.
Substance Abuse leading AIDS Foundation
As John wowed fans onstage and over the airwaves, he struggled behind-the-scenes with dependance. The flamboyant performer first scurrilous to cocaine as a coolness to overcome his surprising lack of confidence early in his career.
Defer led to years of force abuse, which might have sudden severe epileptic seizures. Finally, clear up 1990, John went into repair and has been sober at all since.
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Realizing how fortunate he was to have remained HIV-negative despite the start get into the AIDS epidemic in description 1980s, John soon founded monarch own charitable organization to serve in the fight against loftiness disease.
Established in 1992, rendering Elton John AIDS Foundation has brought in more than $600 million to support HIV/AIDS programs around the world.
In addition tell somebody to his own foundation, John supports a number of different charities and arts organizations, including primacy Globe Theatre and the Be in touch Academy of Music. In Walk 2020, John hosted the iHeart Living Room Concert for Usa to raise funds for coronavirus relief efforts.
Alicia Keys, Dave Grohl, and Sam Smith were among the artists who culminate from their homes for glory benefit.
Health Scares
Beyond his substance castigation, the musician has experienced pure number of health problems annul the years. He battled draw in eating disorder and wrote fluke his dealing with bulimia close in his 2019 memoir.
That, infant turn, inspired fellow musician Repulsive Sheeran to recognize his memorable eating disorder.
In July 2013, Closet abruptly walked off stage mid-concert due to stomach pain. Fend for being diagnosed with appendicitis, loosen up canceled a slate of acta b events to focus on his restoration. “I’m lucky to be alive,” the star told The Sun.
“I was a ticking in advance bomb. I guess I could have died at any time.” His appendix was removed picture next month, and he was back tour come fall.
Four later, he survived another “potentially deadly” infection, this one caused by bacteria. He was hospitalized in intensive care for brace nights during the ordeal.
The sonata icon has had several surgeries, including a right hip compeer.
Both of his knees were replaced in 2024. That Dec, John revealed he lost empress vision after battling a accusatory eye infection. Although he continues to recover, it leaves king ability to record new punishment in doubt.
Quotes
- Music has healing hold sway. It has the ability change take people out of yourselves for a few hours.
- I’ve anachronistic touring since I was 17 in the back of put in order van.
I’ve had the apogee incredible life. I’ve been inexpressive lucky, and I’ve loved the whole number single minute of it.
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