Over the years, Elton John has faced several near-death experiences, including a close call in 2013 due to appendicitis.
“I was a ticking time bomb. I guess I could have died at any time,”said John, who is among the many celebrities who hold the prestigious EGOT title.
In 2017, he experienced life-threatening complications after undergoing surgery for prostate cancer. Reflecting on that time, he remarked, “I didn’t really know how close to death I was.” The five-time Grammy winner, then 72, added, “I was ill because I kept saying, ‘Please let me get well. I want to see my kids.’”
Tonight is the night 🚀
The start of my final North American tour shows and the first time back at Dodger Stadium since 1975. See you at 8pm, LA – don’t be late! #EltonFarewellTour
📸: Terry O’Neil pic.twitter.com/5BGKOBSB2X
— Elton John (@eltonofficial) November 18, 2022
Most recently, the “Nikita” singer revealed that he is recovering from partial blindness.
On September 6, John made his first public appearance since experiencing limited vision, arriving at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) alongside his 61-year-old husband, David Furnish. They rolled down the red carpet in a sparkling purple golf cart for the premiere of “Elton John: Never Too Late”.
The film chronicles John’s remarkable career, from his iconic 1974 performance at Madison Square Garden to his final concert at Dodger Stadium in 2022. It also features personal moments shared between him and Furnish, whom he met in 1993 and married in 2014. The couple has two sons, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, both born via surrogate.
Despite his legendary status in the music industry, the “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” singer is acutely aware of his mortality and shares his sons’ concerns about his impending death.
In the film, John reflects on Zachary and Elijah, saying, “They think about my mortality. They worry about my mortality.”
Next, referring to Furnish, the boys’ co-parent, John adds, “Not so much David, but me.”
The “Sad Songs” singer explains that Zachary and Elijah “love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever, and I would love to be around forever too.”
Meanwhile, Furnish shares that his famous husband has faced “a lot of anxiety” when watching scenes related to his mortality.
“I don’t think it’s a conversation you want to have with your children. I don’t want to plant that seed in their minds,” Furnish comments on the “Hold Me Closer” singer. “Elton’s been through a lot, but he’s also as strong as an ox. He rarely cancels shows. He’s a strong man, and he’s a healer. He’ll probably outlive me. He’s just so tough.”
Furnish also adds that after 30 years together, the couple has finally reached “this moment that we’ve only ever dreamed of.”
Elton John and David Furnish arrive in style to the premiere of ELTON JOHN: NEVER TOO LATE at #TIFF24. 📸Sonia Recchia/Getty Images for Disney pic.twitter.com/CG78y9DWWB
— TIFF (@TIFF_NET) September 7, 2024
However, reports indicate that the “Rocket Man” singer is experiencing a significant health crisis and is eager to keep his vulnerability under wraps.
An insider revealed that the custom-made purple cart John used to glide down the red carpet at TIFF “was to hide” his “reliance on a wheelchair.”
“Elton refuses to be seen as weak. He’s so determined to maintain his larger-than-life image, but the truth is he can hardly move without help.” the tipster shared. “He doesn’t know where he’s going half the time.
“That’s why the golf cart makes sense, it’s a way to hide the truth from the cameras. Elton’s focus now is all about cementing his legacy. He wants to control the narrative of his life as an artist, husband and father, before someone else does it for him!”
