Elton John Battling Vision Loss While Achieving Remarkable Milestones
Legendary musician Sir Elton John graced the stage at the Dominion Theater in London on Sunday, December 1, for a gala concert benefitting the Elton John AIDS Foundation. Despite his enthusiasm, the 77-year-old rocker admitted to struggling with near-blindness, a consequence of a severe eye infection he contracted in France this past summer.
"But I enjoyed listening to it and damn it was good tonight," John shared with the audience, highlighting the fact that his vision loss didn’t dampen his enjoyment of the evening’s performance of his musical adaptation of "The Devil Wears Prada."
John’s battle with his eyesight began in July when he contracted an eye infection that severely affected his right eye and partially impaired his left. He detailed his slow and arduous recovery in a September Instagram post, stating, "I’m recovering, but it’s a very slow process and it will take some time before my vision is restored."
The infection has had a profound impact on John’s career. "This virus is really fierce," he revealed in a November interview with ABC. "Four months on, my left eye is still not in the best shape. It’s gotten a lot better, but I can’t finish the album."
Despite the setback, John remains supported by his husband, David Furnish, whom he lovingly referred to as his "rock" during the concert. The couple, who are raising two sons born via surrogate, Zachary (13) and Elijah (11), have faced numerous challenges together in recent years.
John has experienced several health scares, including hospitalization after collapsing at his Nice home in August 2022 and a hip injury sustained from a fall three years prior. This injury forced him to postpone his gargantuan "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour.
The musician’s resilience shone brightly in 2017 when he returned to the stage after being hospitalized for a potentially fatal bacterial infection contracted during a Latin American tour. He ultimately canceled nine concerts as a result.
His enduring legacy is undisputed; Elton John boasts over 4,000 concerts performed across 80 countries, 31 platinum albums, and 38 gold albums. His iconic single, "Candle in the Wind 1997," remains one of the best-selling singles of all time.
Adding another feather to his illustrious cap, John received an Emmy Award in January for his "Elton Live" Grammy special, a testament to his status as a true icon in the entertainment world. As a member of the exclusive EGOT club, joining a rarefied group that includes Audrey Hepburn, Mel Brooks, and Whoopi Goldberg, he continues to cement his place in music history.
2024-12-02 12:52:00
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