Elton John has announced his retirement from music after a spectacular career spanning 50 years.
The legendary singer is expected to make the announcement later today when an official statement will be given.
The 70-year-old mega star is finishing his last performance of his Las Vegas show, ‘The Million Dollar Piano’, on May 19 after performing it over 200 times.
It’s his second stint in Vegas – his first residency was performing ‘The Red Piano’ show from 2004 to 2009.
Speaking in 2012, John spoke to the BBC, report the Metro, where he revealed his thoughts on retiring on music to concentrate on fatherhood, saying:
I’m going to keep working. When Zachary goes to school, that’s another different thing.
I want to take him to school and I want to pick him up. I don’t want to miss that part of his childhood.
On March 24 2017, the Your Song singer was forced to cancel his Vegas shows after contracting a viscous bug in South America.
Elton made a full recovery from the illness after being in intensive care for 12 days, but according to The Mirror, ill health may have contributed to his decision to retire.
The pianist and composer has sold more than 300 million records making him one of the best-selling music artists in the world.
He has more than fifty top 40 hits, including seven consecutive No.1 US albums.
Elton has received five Grammy Awards, five Brit Awards, winning two for his ‘Outstanding Contribution to Music’ and the first Brits Icon in 2013 for his ‘lasting impact on British culture’.
As well as his successful music career, he’s been heavily involved in the fight against AIDS since the late 1980s.
He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation and a year later began hosting the annual Academy Award Party, which is one of the highest profile Oscar parties in the Hollywood film industry.
John, who announced he was bisexual in 1976 and has been openly gay since 1988, entered into a civil partnership with David Furnish on 21 December 2005.
After same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales in 2014, the pair wed on December 21, 2014.
The couple have two sons, Zachary and Elijah and no doubt he’s looking forward to spending more time with them during his retirement.
Happy retirement to this legend.
