Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
John, who has sons Zachary, 15, and Elijah, 12, with his husband David Furnish, also mentioned that he is no longer able to read or watch television.
Elton John provided an emotional update on his health months after revealing that he had experienced partial vision loss due to a “severe” eye infection. In a candid interview with the Times of London, the 78-year-old music legend discussed the difficult reality of losing his eyesight and its effect on his daily life. “I can’t read. I can’t watch my boys play rugby and soccer, and it’s been an incredibly stressful period because I’m used to fully experiencing those moments,” said the father of two. “It’s been distressing.”
John and his husband, David Furnish, who tied the knot in 2014, are parents to sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12. The couple welcomed Zachary in December 2010, when he was born through a surrogate. Two years later, in January 2013, they became parents to Elijah, who was also born via the same surrogate.
In his conversation with the Times, the U.K. native revealed that he “can’t see the telly” and hasn’t been able to see anything since last July. “You get emotional, but you have to adjust because I’m fortunate to have the life I have,” John explained. “I still have my amazing family, and I can still see something out of this eye,” he added, pointing to his left eye. “So you just tell yourself to keep going.”
The “Rocket Man” star first opened up about his health issues in September. “Over the summer, I’ve been battling a severe eye infection that has left me with only limited vision in one eye,” he shared on social media. “I am healing, but it’s a very slow process, and it will take time before my sight fully returns to the affected eye.” He also mentioned, “I’ve been quietly recovering at home this summer and feel optimistic about the progress I’ve made in my healing so far.”
In a November interview with Good Morning America, John shared that he contracted the eye infection over the summer while in the South of France. “It’s been four months now since I’ve been unable to see, and my left eye is not in great condition,” he said. “There’s hope and encouragement that it’ll improve, but I’m kind of stuck at the moment because I can manage simple tasks like this, but going into the studio and recording, I’m not sure,” John explained, admitting that he can’t read lyrics.
“It really took me by surprise,” he added. “I can’t see anything. I can’t read, I can’t watch anything.”
On Friday, John released his new album Who Believes in Angels?, a collaboration with Brandi Carlile. The album, produced by Andrew Watt and co-written with John’s longtime lyricist Bernie Taupin, was recorded in just 20 days between mid-October and early November 2023.
In the documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival last September, the singer spoke about his sons Zachary and Elijah’s concerns regarding his “mortality.” “They think about my mortality. They worry about it,” he revealed in the documentary. “Not so much David, but me,” he added.
The five-time Grammy Award winner expressed the strong bond he shares with his sons, noting that they “love their daddy” and want nothing more than for him “to be around forever.”
