Elton John has faced significant mental and physical health challenges since 1975. Despite these obstacles, the iconic musician remains deeply committed to the well-being and future of his two sons. His devotion to family is so profound that he has chosen the words for his gravestone to reflect his love for them.
Elton’s Family and Fears of Aging
In an exclusive interview in October 2024 about his new documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, the legendary artist opened up about his personal struggles and hopes. Now 77 years old, Elton is a husband and father to two sons, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, whom he shares with his husband, David Furnish.
He spoke about the concerns his children have about his age, saying, “They worry as they know how old I am. Not so much David but me. They love their Daddy, so they want me to be around forever.”
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While acknowledging the uncertainty of life, Elton candidly admitted, “I don’t know how much time I have left,” but he expressed a heartfelt desire for the future: “I want to see them have children, get married. But I don’t think I am going to be around for that. Who knows? You never know.”
Elton cherishes every moment with his family, describing their time together as “so wonderful and so precious.”
A History of Health Struggles
At the premiere of his documentary, Elton humorously reflected on his extensive medical history, listing the many surgeries and treatments he has undergone: “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. But I’m still here.”
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In 2021, Elton underwent hip replacement surgery after a fall, which later led to complications. In late 2024, he revealed on Instagram that he was dealing with a severe eye infection, leaving him with limited vision in one eye. Sadly, during a November 2024 interview on Good Morning America, Elton disclosed that he had permanently lost sight in his right eye due to the infection. Earlier that year, he also missed the Emmy Awards after undergoing knee surgery.
Elton’s health battles began as early as 1975 when he attempted suicide by overdosing on Valium. The incident, which he later described in his 2019 autobiography Me, was also dramatized in his biopic Rocketman. In 1990, after a two-week binge, he entered rehabilitation to address substance abuse and bulimia nervosa.
#EltonFarewellTour statement on the Orlando and Tampa shows. pic.twitter.com/smSgZD657P
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) November 28, 2018
Over the years, he has faced numerous other health crises, including a severe E. coli infection in 2008, a respiratory infection in 2012, appendicitis in 2013, and a secret prostate cancer diagnosis in 2017. Despite opting for prostate removal surgery, he returned to the stage in just ten days. In the same year, he battled a “rare and potentially deadly” bacterial infection that required an 11-day hospital stay.
Elton has also dealt with ear infections, which led to concert cancellations in 2018, and he postponed parts of his farewell tour in 2021 after injuring his hip. Even in 2023, a fall at his home in the South of France resulted in hospitalization.
Despite all these setbacks, Elton described himself as a “survivor,” saying, “Life is full of pitfalls, even when you’re sober. I can deal with them now because I don’t have to run away and hide.”
His Legacy and What Matters Most
Through all his challenges, Elton remains focused on his family and the future. Reflecting on his life and legacy, he shared his ultimate wish for how he wants to be remembered.
In December 2024, Elton revealed the words he wants engraved on his gravestone: “All I want it to say is, ‘He was a great dad.’”
This heartfelt statement encapsulates Elton John’s love for his family and his enduring commitment to being a devoted father, even in the face of life’s greatest challenges.
