Honestly, it’s a bit surreal to watch a man who spent fifty years sprinting across stages in seven-inch platforms finally admit he’s "not much of me left." Elton John has always been the ultimate survivor. He outran the 1970s, outlasted the critics, and quite literally out-toured every other human on the planet with that marathon Farewell Yellow Brick Road run. But lately, the headlines surrounding Elton John’s health have taken a turn from the usual "he’s still standing" bravado to something a lot more vulnerable.
He’s 78 now.
It’s easy to forget that because the glitter and the voice remain so vibrant, but the physical toll is catching up. Most people think he’s just slowing down because of age, but the reality is a patchwork of surgeries and a recent, scary battle with his eyesight that’s changed how he moves through the world.
The Reality of Elton John’s Health and Those Eye Issues
The big thing right now—the thing that actually has fans worried—is his vision. Back in the summer of 2024, while he was vacationing in the South of France, Elton contracted a severe eye infection. It sounds like something minor, right? A couple of drops and you’re good. Not this time.
He’s been incredibly candid about it. He’s basically lost sight in his right eye. His left eye? It’s not doing great either. By late 2025, he was telling reporters at events like the Variety Philanthropist of the Year gala that he hasn't been able to see, read, or even watch a movie for over 15 months.
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That’s devastating for a man who lives for art.
"I've just gotta be patient," he said recently. He’s looking toward science—hoping that maybe some new treatment or breakthrough will clear the clouds. His husband, David Furnish, has mentioned they are seeing "some improvements" in the left eye, but the right retina is damaged, and those don't just "heal" like a scraped knee.
A Bionic Rocket Man?
If you listen to Elton talk about his physical state, he sounds like he’s listing the parts of a classic car that’s been heavily restored. At the London premiere of his documentary Never Too Late, he joked that there isn't much original "Elton" left.
Let's look at the inventory:
- No tonsils or adenoids.
- No appendix.
- No prostate (following his 2017 cancer battle).
- A replaced right hip.
- Two replaced knees.
Basically, the only original joint he has left is his left hip.
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The knee thing took a weirdly "Elton" turn, too. After his double knee replacement in 2024, he actually asked the surgeon if he could keep his kneecaps. He then took those "leftovers" to jeweler Theo Fennell, had them baked, polished, and set in gold. He wore his own kneecap as a pendant on the red carpet. It’s macabre, sure, but it’s also peak Elton—turning literal pain into a fashion statement.
Why He’s Still Headlining Rock in Rio 2026
You’d think a man who can’t see clearly and has more titanium than bone in his legs would stay home. But he won't. Elton John’s health has always been secondary to his drive.
Even though he "retired" from touring in 2023, he just announced he’s headlining Rock in Rio in September 2026. Why? Because one-off shows give him an energy that sitting in Windsor just can't match. He’s admitted that he misses the "odd show." He’s still recording, too. He recently finished a collaborative album with Brandi Carlile called Who Believes in Angels.
He’s learning to adapt. He uses an iPad for FaceTime because he can see faces if they're close up. He talks to Paul McCartney, Mick Jagger, and Chappell Roan. He’s finding workarounds.
What This Means for the Fans
There’s a lot of misinformation floating around that he’s "bedridden" or "near the end." That’s just not true. He’s limited, yes. He’s struggling with the emotional weight of not being able to see his sons play soccer. That’s the part that gets to him.
But he’s still here.
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If you’re looking for a takeaway on how he’s handling it, it’s his "stoic" approach. He compares the search for a vision cure to the early days of the AIDS crisis—staying strong, battering down doors, and waiting for the science to catch up to the need.
Next Steps for Following the Journey:
- Watch the Documentary: Check out Elton John: Never Too Late on Disney+. It shows the actual footage of his final tour and gives a lot of context to his current "mortality" mindset.
- Monitor Official Updates: Follow David Furnish’s social media or the official Elton John channels rather than tabloid rumors. They are surprisingly transparent about the recovery of his left eye.
- Support the Foundation: Elton’s focus remains his AIDS Foundation. Even as his physical health fluctuates, his philanthropic work is where he’s putting his remaining "original parts" to use.
The man has survived a bacterial infection that nearly killed him in 2017, prostate cancer, and decades of substance abuse. A bit of blurry vision and some gold-plated kneecaps aren't going to stop him from making it to Rio in 2026.