Although John didn’t provide a timeline or hint at potential collaborators, his comment has sparked excitement, especially in light of recent health challenges. Earlier in the interview, Colbert opened by asking, “How are you feeling?” to which John replied, “I’m feeling very, very well. My health is great… never been healthier. I had a little problem with my eyes, but compared to most people, I’m the luckiest man in the world.”

Elton John’s eye health has been a significant topic in recent months. In July, while in the south of France, he suffered a severe eye infection that left him blind in his right eye and struggling with vision in his left. In a November interview with Good Morning America, John elaborated, saying, “It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see… going into the studio and recording, I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric for a start.”

Elton John revealed that he’s blind out of his right eye after developing an infection over the summer, which has affected his ability to make new music. https://t.co/NUMi60KkCe pic.twitter.com/ateZa8ujAO

— New York Post (@nypost) November 25, 2024

Despite this, John has remained optimistic. On Instagram in September, he shared that recovery would be a “slow process” but expressed gratitude for his medical team and family. At the premiere of his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, he even joked about his health, adding, “In fact, the only thing left to me is my left hip.”

John’s health news coincides with the release of Never Too Late, now streaming on Disney+. The documentary interweaves footage of John’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which concluded in Sweden in 2023, with reflections on his meteoric rise in the 1970s. The film highlights his partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin, his iconic stage collaboration with John Lennon, and personal struggles, including his battles with addiction and his journey towards self-acceptance. This isn’t his first collaboration with Disney+, with the streaming giant releasing Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodgers Stadium back in 2022.

 

 

 

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While the documentary captures John’s transformation into one of music’s greatest showmen, it also showcases his quieter, more personal side, featuring moments with his husband, David Furnish, and their family. During the Colbert interview, John reflected on his early career, advising his younger self to avoid “wasting his life on the most stupid things,” a nod to his sobriety and eventual reinvention.

Although John has stepped away from touring, his announcement of new music offers fans a glimpse of what’s to come. With a legacy spanning over five decades, his ability to remain current and creative is admirable. As John said himself, “I always want to create things,” and his fans are ready to listen.

Elton ended his last ever tour show with the song that the tour had been named after, “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road“, but before doing so gave a heartfelt final speech to his adoring fans watching on. In it he said, “I’ve had the most wonderful career, beyond belief. Fifty-two years of pure joy, playing music. How lucky am I to play music? But I wouldn’t be sitting here and talking to you if it wasn’t for you.”

“You bought the singles, the CDs, the albums, the cassettes. But more importantly, you bought the tickets to the shows. And you know how much I love to play live. It’s been my lifeblood to play for you guys. You’ve been absolutely magnificent. Thank you.”

Watch Elton’s speech and subsequent performance of “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” below:

The Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour has been comprised of a total of 333 shows and has sold 5.7 million tickets, grossing $887 millon, thereby making it the highest-grossing tour in history. It takes its name from both his hit song and his seventh studio album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released in 1973, after which his second ever concert tour was also named. This most recent mega tour has visited North America four times, Europe three times and Oceania twice and is a fitting end to the touring career of one of music’s absolute icons. Elton, however, has not completely ruled out performing live again, expressing that a “one-off thing” may occur in the future.

Included as part of the tour was Elton’s legendary headline set at this year’s edition of Glastonbury last month, a show that will be his last UK tour date. An estimated 120,000 fans watched the headline set live at Worthy Farm, with an additional 7.3 million people tuning in to see the legend perform on television.

The show included a special video message from Coldplay who were performing in the Swedish city of Gothenburg at the same time. In the message Coldplay frontman Chris Martin lovingly said, “We are so grateful for everything you’ve done for us. Everything you’ve done for the AIDS Foundation, anytime you’ve been kind to anybody. Everything your band has done over the thousands of shows you’ve done. We love you so much. We’re going to miss you so much.”

Watch Chris Martin’s video message to Elton below: