Sir Elton John has opened up about his health issues, revealing that ‘there’s not much of me left’.
The I’m Still Standing singer recently shared that he had been recovering from a severe infection, which had left him with limited sight in one eye.
During an appearance at the premiere of his new documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, held at the New York Film Festival yesterday, the 77-year-old spoke candidly about his struggles.
‘To be honest with you, there’s not much of me left. I don’t have tonsils, adenoids or an appendix. I don’t have a prostate,’ he said, via People Magazine. ‘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. And I can’t thank you [enough], you’re the people that made me.
‘I want to thank David, Zachary and Elijah for making me the happiest man in the world.
‘I found complete and utter happiness and bliss when I met David, and when I had my children, our children. And it satisfied me so much. I’ve never felt happiness like I have now.’
Sir Elton also delighted the audience with an impromptu performance of Tiny Dancer, before addressing his decision to step back from touring following his farewell dates last year.
‘As you know, I decided to stop touring because I’m 77 years of age, I’ve done all there is to do, to play. I’ve succeeded. I’ve been there and I’ve done it,’ he continued.
‘I’ve still got to make room because I’m still going to have music in my life. But the most important thing in my life are David, Zachary and Elijah, and my family and my friends. I found utopia and I’m so thrilled.’
Sir Elton’s appearance comes just weeks after he issued a statement on his health, following an infection.
‘Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye,’ the Your Song legend penned on Instagram.
‘I am healing but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.
‘I am grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks.
‘I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far.’
The singer said in Farewell Yellow Brick Road: Memories Of My Life on Tour: ‘I’ve been clear with my fans that while the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour is the culmination of my touring career, I still plan to perform live.
‘What this will entail I don’t know yet.’
Despite the illness, the music legend has still been working away, with his new film – spanning his decades-long career – hitting screens very soon.
The official synopsis reads: ‘Directed by RJ Cutler and David Furnish, the documentary follows Elton John as he looks back on his life and the astonishing early days of his 50-year career in this emotionally charged, intimate and uplifting full-circle journey.
‘As he prepares for his final concert in North America at Dodger Stadium, Elton takes us back in time to recount the extraordinary highs and heartbreaking lows of his early years and how he overcame adversity, abuse and addiction to become the icon he is today.’
Elton John: Never Too Much will premiere in cinemas on November 15 before being released on Disney+ on December 13.
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