Elton John has opened up about his health issues and the difficulties he has faced, and has said that the loss of his vision has left him devastated. He opened up in 2024 about how an infection left him blind in one eye, and that he is struggling with poor vision in the other eye too.
He shared how it was impacting his music career and although he was unable to see a lyric, he was hopefule things could improve.
He has now spoken to Variety in a new interview, and has given another update on his wellbeing, adding that the ongoing issues with his sight have felt “devastating”.
Elton John explained, “Because I lost my right eye and my left eye’s not so good, the last 15 months have been challenging for me because I haven’t been able to see anything, watch anything, read anything.”
He added that he still has hope, “I’ve had the most incredible life, and there is hope. I’ve just gotta be patient that someday science will help me with this one. Once they help me with this one, I’ll be fine.”
The latest interview comes after he opened up last year about other health issues he has been facing, and told fans in October last year that “there’s not much of me left” following multiple surgeries.
At the premiere of his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, he said, “I don’t have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix. I don’t have a prostate, I don’t have a right hip or a left knee or a right knee. In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip. But I’m still here.”
Given his health struggles, Elton John had confirmed that would not be touring again after his ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road’ tour ended in July 2023, but he then later said he would perform “the odd show”, giving fans the chance to see the music icon perform once more. These have included the 50th annual Candelight Concert in the US last December and the opening of the Stonewall National Momument Visitor Center last summer.
Earlier this week, he was confirmed as the first headliner for Rock In Rio 2026.
When speaking about this confirmation, he said, “I’ve always had a fantastic time whenever we’ve played in Brazil. I didn’t manage to get to South America for the farewell tour, so when Rock In Rio asked me to play, I said ‘yes’ immediately.”
“I love my Brazilian fans, they hold such a special place in my heart. The energy these big one-off shows have been giving me since I stopped touring is unbeatable. As a band, we’re playing brilliantly and we’re sounding as good as we ever have, and, importantly, we’re still really loving playing together. I really cannot wait to return to Brazil next summer.”
