Elton John has opened up about a deeply personal battle that has changed his everyday life as a parent.
For decades, the 78-year-old icon has been a towering force in music - an EGOT winner, hitmaker, and showman whose electrifying performances and hit songs have defined generations.
From sold-out stadium tours to award-winning musicals, John has lived a life that few could imagine. But now, the man once known for commanding the stage in sequins and sunglasses is navigating a much more personal and difficult challenge.
The British singer-songwriter revealed in a recent interview with Times of London that an eye infection has left him with permanent damage to his vision.
“I can see you, but I can’t see TV, I can’t read,” he said. “I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I’m used to soaking it all up.”
The 'Sacrifice' artist - who shares sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with husband David Furnish - called the experience “distressing".
“You get emotional, but you have to get used to it because I’m lucky to have the life I have,” he continued. “I still have my wonderful family, and I can still see something out of [my left eye]. So you say to yourself, ‘Just get on with it.’”
The vision problems began with an infection he contracted while in the South of France, something he first disclosed during a November interview with ABC News’ Robin Roberts.
“It’s been four months since I haven’t been able to see, and my left eye’s not the greatest. I’m, kind of, stuck in the moment,” he said.
The decline in his eyesight left John uncertain about whether he could continue making music. “I can’t see a lyric, for start. We’re taking an initiative to try and get it better, but at the moment, that’s really what we’re concentrating on,” he explained.
“It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen. It kinda floored me, and I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything," he added.
The Rocketman icon shared the gravity of the situation with an audience at the premiere of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical at the Dominion Theatre in December.
“As some of you may know, I have had issues and now I have lost my sight,” John said, per the Daily Mail. “I haven’t been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed listening to it.”
His 62-year-old husband assisted him down from the stage after his speech. John acknowledged his other half in front of the crowd, and said: “To my husband, who’s been my rock, because I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because as you know, I’ve lost my eyesight, so it’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it.”
Despite his health battles, the 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' vocalist hasn’t stopped creating. On Friday (April 4), he released his latest album: Who Believes in Angels? with Brandi Carlile.
“I knew her because I had bought her album, and she’s the most remarkable singer, so I said, ‘Absolutely, but you’ll have to come to Vegas because I’m stuck here.’ We became friends, and I took an interest in where she was going,” he said. “I even bought her an electric guitar. People thought, Who Believes in Angels? would be Americana, laid-back. No. It’s upbeat and rocking.”
He celebrated the project on Instagram, writing: “This album is raw, unexpected, and one of the most exciting projects I’ve ever been part of. I feel revitalized, Brandi is at her absolute best, and together we’ve created something entirely new."
"To all of you who have been part of this journey – thank you. Your love and support mean the world, and I can’t wait for you to hear this," he concluded.
Though he’ll always love music, the award-winning artist said his greatest joy now comes from being a dad.
“I always said I wanted to die on stage. Now I want my gravestone to read, ‘He was a great dad,’” he said. “My career has been wonderful, but the kids are what matters.”
And he’s committed to raising them right. “We’re making sure they’re OK, making sure they’re appreciative and not spoiling them too much because, you know, I’m Elton John,” he added.