Music legend Elton John, 77, has disclosed he has lost his eyesight due to complications from a “severe” infection. The heartfelt revelation came on Sunday night as he addressed attendees at Dominion Theatre in London’s West End. The occasion was a charity gala for The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical, where John’s candid announcement stunned the audience.
“As some of you may know, I have had issues and now I have lost my sight. I haven’t been able to see the performance, but I have enjoyed listening to it,” John revealed to the crowd.
Elton John is an iconic British musician, composer, and philanthropist. He has also been a towering figure in the music industry for over five decades. John is renowned for his distinctive voice, flamboyant stage presence, and a catalog of hits that have become staples of pop and rock music, and his contributions to music are unparalleled. As of 2024, his net worth is estimated at $650 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. This echoes his success in selling over 300 million records worldwide and his savvy business decisions. These include lucrative touring deals, residencies, and involvement in various musical projects and collaborations.
A Storied Music Career: Hits & Milestones
Elton John, 70s. (Photo by: Universal Archive/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
Elton John’s journey to stardom began in the late 1960s. However, the 1970 release of “Your Song” catapulted him into the limelight. This was the beginning of a string of hits that would span decades. These songs also include “Rocket Man,” “Candle in the Wind,” and “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me.” His collaboration with lyricist Bernie Taupin has been one of the most successful partnerships in music history, creating songs that have resonated with audiences worldwide. Albums like Goodbye Yellow Brick Road and Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy are considered classics, showcasing John’s genius as a composer and performer. His ability to adapt to changing musical landscapes while maintaining his signature style is a testament to his enduring appeal.
Beyond Music: Philanthropy & Advocacy
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – NOVEMBER 20: Elton John performs at Dodger Stadium on November 20, 2022 also in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images)
Moreover, Elton John’s impact extends far beyond the music industry. He is also celebrated for his philanthropic efforts and advocacy for LGBTQ+ rights. The Elton John AIDS Foundation, established in 1992, has raised over $450 million to combat HIV/AIDS globally. It provides education, prevention, and treatment services. His outspokenness on LGBTQ+ issues and his own openness about his sexuality have made him a pivotal figure in the fight for equality. John’s commitment to his causes has endeared him to fans and highlighted the role of public figures in advocating for social change.
The Business Of Being Elton John
WEST HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 09: (L-R) Winner of Academy Award for Best Original. Song from “Rocketman” Elton John and David Furnish attend the 28th Annual Elton John AIDS. Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party sponsored by IMDb, Neuro Drinks and. Walmart on February 09, 2020 also in West Hollywood, California. (Photo by Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF)
The financial success that contributed to Elton John’s net worth of $650 million resulted from his music sales and astute business acumen. His high-grossing tours, including the Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour, have been significant revenue generators. Residencies in Las Vegas and collaborations with other artists have further diversified his income streams. Additionally, John’s work as a composer for Broadway and film, most notably his contributions to The Lion King, has not only broadened his artistic legacy but also contributed to his financial portfolio. His ability to leverage his brand across multiple platforms demonstrates a savvy understanding of the entertainment industry’s business side.
Elton John’s net worth of $650 million in 2024 encapsulates an artistically groundbreaking and commercially successful career. From his timeless hits to his contributions to philanthropy and his business ventures, John’s career is a blueprint for achieving longevity and relevance in the entertainment industry. His legacy, characterized by musical innovation, advocacy, and a flair for the dramatic, continues to influence artists and fans, cementing his place as a true pop culture icon.
It’s music lovers’ favorite time of the year. I’m not referring to when the unofficial Queen of Christmas, Mariah Carey’s classic holiday tune, glares on the speakers of all public shopping centers around the country. Although that’s equally as exciting, I’m talking about the annual Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame ceremony. This year’s class includes heavy hitters Willie Nelson, Missy Elliott, Kate Bush, Rage Against The Machine, Sheryl Crow, the late George Michael, The Spinners, and more.
Today (November 3), the induction ceremony and star-studded performances are set to take place. So, what time is the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony? According to the organization’s official website, show time is 8 p.m. Eastern. For those who weren’t able to secure tickets for the historic celebration going down in person at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, they’re in luck.
The ceremony will be broadcast live on Disney+. Find more information here. If you can’t catch it in real-time, according to Billboard, a three-hour “edited broadcast of highlights will air on ABC” will play on January 1, 2024, beginning at 8 p.m. Eastern. But with Grammy Award-winning recording artist and producer Missy Elliott set to make history as the first woman rapper to be inducted (especially on the heels of the culture’s 50th anniversary), you might want to watch it live.
Despite former board member Jann Wenner’s disgusting remarks, the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony is tuned to be a true headbanger. In May, the inductees class, which features Kate Bush, Rage Against The Machine, the late George Michael, Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, and the Spinners, was announced. Shortly after, the live entertainment for the broadcast was unveiled, but today (October 24), that list has grown. Here is the complete list of performers for the 2023 Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction.
Inductees Nelson, Crow, and Missy have confirmed they’ll hit the stage. In addition to their sets, Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Chris Stapleton, Dave Matthews, HER, New Edition, St. Vincent, Stevie Nicks, Adam Levine, Carrie Underwood, Common, Ice-T, LL Cool J, Miguel, Queen Latifah, and Sia will perform.
Outside of the performances and inductions, several impactful musicians will be acknowledged during the ceremony, including Chaka Khan, Al Kooper, and Bernie Taupin, who will be awarded the Musical Excellence Award. At the same time, DJ Kool Herc and Link Wray will be bestowed with the Musical Influence Award. Lastly, the Soul Train host Don Cornelius will posthumously receive the Ahmet Ertegun Award.
The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame induction ceremony will be held on November 3 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. For the first time in the ceremony’s history, it will be broadcast live on Disney+. Find more information here.
The set times for Glastonbury Festival 2023 have been announced, nearly a month before the five-day festival is due to return to its home at Worthy Farm, Pilton, Somerset, England on June 21-25. This year’s headliners include Arctic Monkeys, Guns N’ Roses, and a special, farewell performance from national treasure Elton John. Further highlights of the event include Lizzo, Lil Nas X, Wizkid, Lana Del Rey, Queens Of The Stone Age, Kelis, Loyle Carner, Christine And The Queens, Phoenix, Fatboy Slim, Rick Astley, and more.
With eleven stages and related events taking place in the surrounding area beginning Wednesday before the festival proper, there is plenty to do for the weekend, and Glastonbury’s website has a full list of just about every official event/set on its website now. In addition to the main festival stages, a sidebar includes links to all of the venues hosting Glastonbury artists as the utterly sprawling festival takes over Pilton.
One artist who won’t be making an appearance is Slowthai, who was dropped from the lineup following news he’d been accused of sexual assault, while the festival’s organizers addressed the festival’s dearth of female headliners shortly after announcing the lineups this year. “We’re trying our best so the pipeline needs to be developed,” said co-organizer Emily Eavis. “This starts way back with the record companies, radio. I can shout as loud as I like but we need to get everyone on board. It’s top of our agenda, and it probably makes it a bit harder because we’ve decided to make that important to us. To be honest, sometimes it’s easier to keep your head down.”
For more information, you can visit Glastonbury’s site here.
Some artists covered here are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Anybody who thought the vinyl resurgence was just a fad was mistaken: The industry has experienced a legitimate revival. As a result, music fans are interested in physical media in ways they may not have if the decades-old medium hasn’t made a comeback. That doesn’t mean everybody is listening to just their parents’ old music, though. That’s part of it, sure, thanks to rereleases that present classic albums in new ways. A vital part of the renewed vinyl wave, though, is new projects being released as records, of which there are plenty.
Whatever you might be into, each month brings a new slew of vinyl releases that has something for everybody. Some stand out above the rest, naturally, so check out some of our favorite vinyl releases of March below.
Elton John — Honky Château (50th Anniversary Reissue)
UMe
1972’s Honky Château is an iconic Elton John release (it’s the one with “Rocket Man“). It turns 50 this year and it’s getting an anniversary edition to celebrate. This reissue features outtakes from the original session tapes and “an eight-page booklet containing rare photos, memorabilia and an essay featuring interviews from those who were there at the time.”
Tom Waits — Closing Time (50th Anniversary Reissue)
ANTI-
Closing Time, while not a major commercial hit back in its day, has gone on to be one of Tom Waits’ most beloved albums. Well, it turns 50 this year, and now it’s available in both black and clear pressings, and was given a half-speed remaster at the iconic Abbey Road Studios.
Miles Davis had a long, productive career, but perhaps his most beloved run was from the late ’60s to the mid-’70s. Vinyl Me, Please is commemorating that era with The Electric Years, which includes seven iconic Davis albums: In A Silent Way (1969), B*tches Brew (1970), A Tribute To Jack Johnson (1971), Live-Evil (1971), On The Corner (1972), Big Fun (1974), and Get Up With It (1974). Aside from the albums themselves, also included are listening notes and even an original podcast.
MF Doom’s Metalface Records is celebrating the 30th anniversary of KMD’s sophomore album, Black Bastards. For those unfamiliar, KMD was a hip-hop trio that featured Zev Love X, who would later go on to achieve greater recognition as… yes, MF Doom. So, this reissue is an absolute must-have for Doom stans.
Of her now-decade-old album (the first one that Aaron Dessner ever produced), Sharon Van Etten said in a statement, “About a year or two ago, Naomi Yang (of Galaxie 500) reached out to me after she rediscovered a video that we had made together in 2011, during the making of Tramp, just before the album’s release. It was for the song ‘Serpents.’ The timing was uncanny, approaching the anniversary of Tramp. Thinking about my time in New York while in the bubble of Los Angeles and my home. Thinking about how restless I was, and now settled down and stable. Thinking about how Aaron Dessner took a chance on me after I messaged him with a fury of demos. He could see through the hiss and crappy vocals on my GarageBand demos, and that I had something to say. He gave me the confidence to be loud and to scream my rage and feel founded and justified in my own pain. He gave me more tools to find catharsis in my work. I have carried that with me ever since.”
Bob Marley would have turned 78 this past February and his estate is going big with marking the occasion. A bunch of his albums have been re-released as part of limited-edition pressings straight out of Jamaica, via Marley’s own Tuff Gong label. If you only get one album, you can’t go wrong with the Legend compilation, which is widely regarded as one of the best albums ever.
Flaming Lips — Fight Test and Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell
Warner Bros.
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots is an all-time classic, but don’t forget the two EPs Flaming Lips dropped at around the same time, too: Fight Test and Ego Tripping At The Gates Of Hell. The band is reissuing those now and this is the first time they’re both available on vinyl, meaning fans are finally able to fill a Wayne Coyne hole in their LP library.
The Police have a ton of hits, so picking up a compilation album from the group is a safe bet. Greatest Hits was originally released in 1992 and features iconic tracks like “Roxanne,” “Message In A Bottle,” “Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic,” and “Every Breath You Take.” This reissue was remastered at Abbey Road and is pressed on heavyweight black vinyl.
Burt Bacharach and Elvis Costello — The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello
UMe
We’re now about two months removed from the death of vintage pop icon Burt Bacharach. During his storied career, he counted Elvis Costello among his frequent collaborators, and now, The Songs Of Bacharach & Costello celebrates the three-decade professional relationship they enjoyed. This edition includes remastered tracks, previously unreleased songs, and a moving 10,000-word essay from Costello on his late friend.
Pink Floyd — The Dark Side Of The Moon (Deluxe Box Set)
Warner Music
It could be argued that The Dark Side Of The Moon is the most famous/successful album ever; It’s been on the Billboard charts for nearly 20 total years now. Dark Side turns 50 this year and a massive new anniversary edition comes with goodies like a book, CD and Blu-ray editions, and an LP of The Dark Side Of The Moon – Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London, 1974.
Earlier today (March 3), the headliners for this year’s Glastonbury festival was revealed, and leading the iconic UK event are Elton John, Arctic Monkeys, and Guns N’ Roses. After the reveal, Glastonbury co-organizer Emily Eavis spoke about this year’s all-male headliners (although female musician Melissa Reese joined Guns N’ Roses in 2016).
She described the situation as a “pipeline” issue, saying to The Guardian, “We’re trying our best so the pipeline needs to be developed. This starts way back with the record companies, radio. I can shout as loud as I like but we need to get everyone on board.” She added, “It’s top of our agenda, and it probably makes it a bit harder because we’ve decided to make that important to us. To be honest, sometimes it’s easier to keep your head down.”
Here is the first Glastonbury Festival 2023 line-up poster, which includes our final two Pyramid Stage headliners: @ArcticMonkeys (Friday) and @gunsnroses (Saturday).
On the female headliner front, things are expected to look better next year: Eavis says they’re anticipating having two female headliners, with one confirmed and one nearly confirmed.
The full lineup is not yet here, but as The Guardian notes, there is diversity among the 54 acts listed on today’s poster: 52 percent of them are male and 46 percent are non-white or feature non-white members. Eavis noted she’s “entirely focused on balancing our bill,” adding, “It’s not just about gender, it’s about every aspect of diversity. […] We’re probably one of the only big shows that’s really focused on this.”
Find more info about this year’s Glastonbury festival here.
Jack Harlow has finally shared his long-awaited Doritos Super Bowl commercial ahead of the big game this Sunday. Today (February 8), Harlow dropped the minute-long clip on his social media.
For the past few weeks, Harlow has teased a love triangle in the ad. Now, we see he was referring to the instrument, the triangle.
Throughout the commercial, Harlow seeks to “try a new angle.” He confides in Missy Elliott about quitting rap — “I gotta do me, Missy,” — teaches a triangle-playing class, and playing the triangle in an arena.
Later, he is seen at an awards show anticipating a win for the Triangle Player Of The Year award, only to lose to one Elton John.
It’s gearing up to be a big year for the “First Class” hitmaker. In addition to this hilarious Super Bowl ad, Harlow is gearing up for his big screen acting debut with a remake of White Man Can’t Jump, which will premiere on Hulu in May.
In the meantime, you can check out his Doritos Super Bowl commercial above.
Super Bowl LVII will take place this Sunday, February 12 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona beginning at 6:30 p.m. ET. The game will broadcast live on Fox.
Jack Harlow and Missy Elliott are Warner Music artists. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.
Earlier today (September 8), Queen Elizabeth II died at 96 years old. Given how long the Queen had maintained a public presence, her passing prompted many reactions on social media, including from the music community.
Elton John, who Elizabeth knighted in 1998, wrote on social media today, “Along with the rest of the nation, I am deeply saddened to hear the news of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth’s passing. She was an inspiring presence to be around and led the country through some of our greatest and darkest moments with grace, decency and a genuine caring warmth. Queen Elizabeth has been a huge part of my life from childhood to this day, and I will miss her dearly.”
Duran Duran offered a lengthy post, writing, “Her Majesty the Queen has presided over the UK for longer than any other British monarch. She dedicated her life to the people and set an extraordinary example to the world throughout her reign. She’s seen changes that are beyond what any of us can imagine. She has faced challenges that she has risen to time and again. Her life has been remarkable in so many ways. We will all miss her and are grateful for the incredible service she gave to the people of Great Britain and the countries of the Commonwealth. We send our deepest condolence to the royal family. Her death brings to an end a long and unique chapter in the history of the United Kingdom and the world.”
Ozzy Osbourne also chimed in, “I mourn with my country the passing of our greatest Queen. With a heavy heart I say it is devastating the thought of England without Queen Elizabeth II.”
I mourn with my country the passing of our greatest Queen. With a heavy heart I say it is devastating the thought of England without Queen Elizabeth II pic.twitter.com/JZYXGRz2hb
Sad to hear of The Queen passing. I remember the street celebrations when she was crowned Queen. Always a staple of growing up in England. GSTQ- RIP pic.twitter.com/TEROdsZvGk
{pr invite} #vanessawilliams #thedevilwearsprada #devilwearsprada #stagey #curtaincall #westend #londontheatre #theatre #theater #theatretiktok #theatertiktok #musicaltheatre #musicaltheater #eltonjohn #shainataub @Elton John ♬ original sound – Aeron James
trin #RenewSandman (@trinistired) 