Elton John released his album goodbye yellow brick road back in 1973, and more than 50 years later, has confirmed that he is saying goodbye to the road for good. The 77-year-old music icon confirmed in a interview with Tonight’s receptionpublished Thursday, that he has no plans to tour anymore. His last performance was last July, in Stockholm, Sweden.
“The last show in Stockholm on my farewell tour after Glastonbury, I got in the car and said, ‘Yes! Yes!’ We had gone to the top, exactly the way I wanted and there was no turning back. [after] “That,” John said.
John’s husband, David Furnitureexplains in detail John’s decision to stop touring.
“You know, we have sons, they’re going into their teens,” he said. The couple shared Zachary13, and Elijah, 11. “We don’t want to miss anything. We want to be there for that. I think it’s an important decade in a child’s life.”
Furthermore, John has been doing it for decades.
“He’s been doing this for 60 years,” Furnish added. “So it’s great to have time at home with the family.”
At that final show in Stockholm, John thanked the gathered crowd for their decades of support and shared that he was done touring but not necessarily done performing.
“I’ve had the most amazing career, beyond imagination,” he said. “Fifty-two years of pure joy playing music. How lucky am I to play music? But you know, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you if it weren’t for you. You bought the singles, the CDs, the albums, the cassettes, but more importantly, you bought the tickets to the shows. You know how much I love playing live. Playing for you is my life. You’ve been amazing.”
“I’ll never tour again, but I might do something in the future—something that’s a one-time thing—but that’s very far away,” he continued. “I want to cherish my family, my sons, my husband, everything. I deserve it. And I don’t regret it tonight. I want to thank the band, the crew, everyone. I will miss you so much, but I will see you again sooner than you think. I love you guys!”
The “Rocket Man” singer has won five Grammys and been nominated 35 times in his career, and also won an Emmy in January for his performance. Elton John Live: Goodbye Dodger Stadium special, recording his final concert in November 2022 in the United States, became the 19th person ever to win the coveted EGOT title as an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar winner and Tony. He was also knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth in 1998 and provided the soundtrack to a world grieving the 1997 death of Princess Diana with his re-recording of “Candle in the Wind” with lyrics the song was slightly re-edited in memory of his friend. In 2022, John was invited to perform at The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
He still has ties to the royal family now: Before John’s last day at Dodger Stadium, Prince Harry And Meghan Markle released a surprise video message for musicians, people performed at their 2018 wedding.
“Thank you for entertaining people for decades,” Harry said. “Thank you for being a friend like you were to my mother, thank you for being our friend. Thank you for being a friend to our children and thank you for entertaining people around the world. Although this is officially his retirement, this will not be his last performance, we know that. But we love you and congratulate you on an incredible career.”
The reason John packed his bags and ended his touring life isn’t surprising at first glance. 2023 answers for Vanity fairProust’s Questionnaire. In response to the question: “What is your idea of perfect happiness?” John replied: “With my husband, David, and the children.”
