Elton John is opening up about losing his eyesight.
The legendary musician, 77, told the audience at the opening night of The Devil Wears Prada: The Musical in London on Sunday, December 1, that he struggled to see the stage, according to the Daily Mail. (John provided the music for the musical.)
“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 it,” John said, per the outlet.
The Mail reports that John was “assisted offstage” by his husband, David Furnish, 62, whom the singer praised for supporting him through his health issues.
Elton John has battled several health issues throughout his legendary music career, from addiction struggles to a secret cancer battle. “I am a survivor. I’ve survived a lot of things,” he told Variety in a March 2019 interview. “Life is full of pitfalls, even when you’re sober. I can deal with them now because I […]
“To my husband who’s been my rock because I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews … it’s hard for me to see it but I love to hear it and it sounded good tonight. Thank you for coming,” he told the crowd.
In November, John shared during an interview with Good Morning America’s Robin Roberts that he had lost sight in his right eye over the summer.
“I had an infection in the South of France,” he said. “It’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see, and my left eye’s not the greatest.”
John said there’s “hope and encouragement” that he’ll be OK eventually.
“I’m, kind of, stuck in the moment,” he added, noting that he’s unsure if “going in the studio and recording” music is possible right now.
“I can’t see a lyric, for start. We’re taking an initiative to try and get it better, but at the moment, that’s really what we’re concentrating on,” John explained. “It’s never fortunate for anything like this to happen. It kinda floored me, and I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything.”
John first detailed his eye issues in a statement via Instagram in early September.
“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 singer said. “I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.”
“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,” he continued before signing the letter “with love and gratitude.”