Elton John, or “Rocket Man,” as he is also commonly known, has been taking the music industry for decades. The singer, composer and pianist has won countless major awards in massive award-giving bodies such as the Grammys, the Oscars, the MTV Video Music Awards, the Kennedy Center Honors, and many more.
John started making music in the 1960s, but it wasn’t until 1969 that he released his debut album, ‘Empty Sky.’
In 1970, John’s first big hit, “Your Song,” came from his second self-titled album. The album became a hit both in the United Kingdom and in the United States. and kick-started the singer’s golden years of commercial success: 1970 to 1976. Albums during this time period included ‘Honky Château’ (1972), ‘Goodbye Yellow Brick Road’ (1973), as well as his very first ‘Greatest Hits’ compilation album.
In 2018, he started the final tour of his career, the “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour. By the time the concert tour ends, John would have performed 333 concerts from this tour alone. On July 8, 2023, John capped off his final tour performance in Stockholm, Sweden, culminating his decades-long commercial success and impact on the music and entertainment industry.
Ever since the end of his years-long farewell tour in July 2023, the BBC reported that the legendary musician had spent his time with his husband, David Furnish, and their two children, named Zachary and Elijah, at his French Villa in Nice, France.
Unfortunately, in August 2023, the singer had a minor accident at the said property, which led him to be hospitalized.
According to a report published by Page Six, Elton John fell at his villa over the weekend. He was immediately taken to the Princess Grace Hospital’s orthopedic center in Monaco.
At the medical facility, the “Your Song” hitmaker received precautionary treatment.
His spokesperson revealed to the outlet that the singer was indeed hospitalized.
“We can confirm that following a slip yesterday at his home in the South of France, Elton visited the local hospital as a precautionary measure,” the representative said.
Fortunately, the BBC reported that the singer only suffered from minor injuries and was immediately discharged the morning after, and it appears that there was no major injury he suffered in the immediate aftermath.
“Following check-ups, he was immediately discharged this morning and is now back at home and in good health,” the spokesperson added.
His recent accident was not the first time he reportedly fell and was sent to the hospital, as it also happened in 2021.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the musician previously postponed his tour dates for the “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour in 2021 as he was advised to get surgery after his fall earlier that year.
In a statement shared on social media, the singer said at the time that he fell “awkwardly on a hard surface” and has been “in considerable pain and discomfort in my hip ever since.”
Even though he underwent intensive physio and specialist treatment, the pain worsened, and he had difficulty moving.
“I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get me back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications,” he told his followers.
Elton John further elaborated on his decision to cancel his tour in 2021 in an interview with BBC Radio 5Live, as reported by the Daily Express.
He told the radio show that he was a “recovering alcoholic,” so whatever happens to him, he has to accept it, and there is nothing that he could do about it.
“The only thing I can change is to do something positive. Get it done now, I hate disappointing people and I hate canceling shows,” he said.
He then recalled what Bono told him in the summer of that year, as the other musical legend told him that he needed to get his tour done because he had been singing for a long time.
“I sing for two hours, 45 minutes and I’m in pain, so I want to really enjoy what I’m doing,” he added.
John then noted that it was his last tour ever, that’s why he wanted to give his “100 percent” to his fans. And it was a hard decision for him to cancel the tour, but his condition was so bad.
His husband then told him he had to stop and he would tour again in January the following year.
“It didn’t cause me a load of mental anguish, the only anguish I have is letting people down,” he added.
According to Reuters, the musician returned to the stage in New Orleans after taking a break for almost two years. Aside from his health condition at the time, he wasn’t able to perform a year prior due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Since he had been working in the music industry since he was a teenager, John said it was a new experience for him and for his fans that he took a long break from performing.
“This is a new experience for us, I’ve never had this amount of time off in my life … playing music, well at least since I was 17 years of age,” he said.
Then, in July 2023, he finally bid goodbye to his fans from touring for the last time as he wrapped up his farewell tour at the Tele2 Arena in Stockholm, Sweden.
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