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See Again
© Getty Images
0 / 62 Fotos
Reginald Kenneth Dwight - Elton John was actually born Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
© Getty Images
1 / 62 Fotos
A star is born - He was born on March 25, 1947, and is from Pinner, Middlesex in England.
© Getty Images
2 / 62 Fotos
Child prodigy - He showed an early talent for music, winning a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London at the age of 11.
© Getty Images
3 / 62 Fotos
Working his way up - At 15, he started a regular gig playing pubs and bars.
© Getty Images
4 / 62 Fotos
Bluesology - In 1962, the future star and some friends founded Bluesology, a band that would experience success in the mid-60s.
© Getty Images
5 / 62 Fotos
Elton John is born - In 1967, he changed his name to Elton John in homage to his Bluesology band members, Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.
© Getty Images
6 / 62 Fotos
The songwriter - John formally began a career as a songwriter in 1968. He was also a session musician at this time, and provided backing vocals.
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7 / 62 Fotos
First album - He released his first album, 'Empty Sky,' in 1969.
© Getty Images
8 / 62 Fotos
'Elton John' - His second album, 'Elton John,' was released in 1970.
© Getty Images
9 / 62 Fotos
'Your Song' - The album's second single, 'Your Song,' was John’s first big hit. It helped the album hit the top five in the UK and the US.
© Getty Images
10 / 62 Fotos
'Tumbleweed Connection' - He followed that up with the album 'Tumbleweed Connection' in 1970.
© Getty Images
11 / 62 Fotos
'Madman Across the Water'
- Album 'Madman Across the Water' was released in 1971.
© Getty Images
12 / 62 Fotos
'17-11-70' - The live album '17-11-70' was also released in 1971.
© Getty Images
13 / 62 Fotos
'Honky Château' - The album 'Honky Château' was released in 1972.
© Getty Images
14 / 62 Fotos
'‘Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player' - Album 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player' came out in 1973.
© Getty Images
15 / 62 Fotos
'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' - That year also saw the release of the classic Elton John album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.'
© Getty Images
16 / 62 Fotos
The Rocket Record Company
- John founded his own label, The Rocket Record Company, in 1973.
© Getty Images
17 / 62 Fotos
'Caribou' - The album 'Caribou' was released in 1974.
© Getty Images
18 / 62 Fotos
'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' - He released the album 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' in 1975.
© Getty Images
19 / 62 Fotos
Hollywood Walk of Fame - John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975.
© Getty Images
20 / 62 Fotos
'Rock of the Westies' - He released his 10th studio album, 'Rock of the Westies,' in 1975.
© Getty Images
21 / 62 Fotos
'Here and There' - Live album 'Here and There' was released in 1976.
© Getty Images
22 / 62 Fotos
'Blue Moves' - Another album, 'Blue Moves,' was released just a few months later.
© Getty Images
23 / 62 Fotos
Coming out - That same year, he told Rolling Stone magazine that he was bisexual. In 1984, he married close friend Renate Blauel, but the marriage only lasted three years. He came out as gay in 1988.
© Getty Images
24 / 62 Fotos
Watford Football Club - John became the owner of Watford Football Club in 1976. He owned the club until 1987, and then again from 1997 to 2002.
© Getty Images
25 / 62 Fotos
'A Single Man' - He released the album 'A Single Man' in 1978.
© Getty Images
26 / 62 Fotos
'Victim of Love'
- Album 'Victim of Love' was released in 1979.
© Getty Images
27 / 62 Fotos
'21 at 33'
- He released album '21 at 33' in 1980.
© Getty Images
28 / 62 Fotos
'The Fox' - Album 'The Fox' was released in 1981.
© Getty Images
29 / 62 Fotos
'Jump Up!' - He released the album 'Jump Up!' in 1982.
© Getty Images
30 / 62 Fotos
'Too Low for Zero' - The album 'Too Low for Zero' was released in 1983.
© Getty Images
31 / 62 Fotos
'Breaking Hearts' - Album 'Breaking Hearts' was released in 1984.
© Getty Images
32 / 62 Fotos
'Ice on Fire' - 'Ice on Fire' was released in 1985.
© Getty Images
33 / 62 Fotos
'Leather Jackets'
- He released the album 'Leather Jackets' in 1986.
© Getty Images
34 / 62 Fotos
'Live in Australia' - 'Live in Australia' was released in 1987.
© Getty Images
35 / 62 Fotos
'Reg Strikes Back' - Album 'Reg Strikes Back' was released in 1988.
© Getty Images
36 / 62 Fotos
'Sleeping with the Past' - Album 'Sleeping with the Past' came out in 1989.
© Getty Images
37 / 62 Fotos
'The One' - Album 'The One' was released in 1992.
© Getty Images
38 / 62 Fotos
Elton John AIDS Foundation - He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992. It has raised hundreds of millions of dollars.
© Getty Images
39 / 62 Fotos
'Duets' - 'Duets' was released in 1993.
© Getty Images
40 / 62 Fotos
David Furnish - Elton John and David Furnish became a couple in 1993. They entered into a civil partnership in 2005, and wed in 2014 after same-sex marriage became legal in England. They have two sons together.
© Getty Images
41 / 62 Fotos
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
© Getty Images
42 / 62 Fotos
'Made in England' - He released the album 'Made in England' in 1995.
© Getty Images
43 / 62 Fotos
Sir Elton John - He was named to the Order of the British Empire in 1996, and made a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
© Getty Images
44 / 62 Fotos
'The Big Picture'
- He released 'The Big Picture' in 1997.
© Getty Images
45 / 62 Fotos
'Candle in the Wind 1997' - He released the song 'Candle in the Wind 1997' following friend Princess Diana's death. It sold over 33 million copies worldwide.
© Getty Images
46 / 62 Fotos
'One Night Only – The Greatest Hits' - 'One Night Only – The Greatest Hits' was released in 2000.
© Getty Images
47 / 62 Fotos
'Songs from the West Coast' - The album 'Songs from the West Coast' was released in 2001.
© Getty Images
48 / 62 Fotos
Las Vegas - In 2004, he began a concert residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. After wrapping up that residency in 2009, he returned to Sin City with a new show in 2011, which ended in May 2018.
© Getty Images
49 / 62 Fotos
'Peachtree Road' - Album 'Peachtree Road' was released in 2004.
© Getty Images
50 / 62 Fotos
'Elton John's Christmas Party' - 'Elton John's Christmas Party' was released in 2005.
© Getty Images
51 / 62 Fotos
'The Captain & the Kid' - He released 'The Captain & the Kid' in 2006.
© Getty Images
52 / 62 Fotos
'The Union' - 'The Union' was released in 2010.
© Getty Images
53 / 62 Fotos
'Good Morning to the Night' - 'Good Morning to the Night' was released in 2012.
© Getty Images
54 / 62 Fotos
'The Diving Board' - Album 'The Diving Board' was released in 2013.
© Getty Images
55 / 62 Fotos
'Wonderful Crazy Night' - His last studio album, 'Wonderful Crazy Night,' was released in 2016.
© Getty Images
56 / 62 Fotos
Movies and musicals - John has also achieved huge success with soundtracks, including 'The Lion King,' and on Broadway, with shows like 'Billy Elliot the Musical.'
© Getty Images
57 / 62 Fotos
Biopic
- In May 2019, 'Rocketman,' a biopic starring Taron Egerton as Elton John, hit theaters. Elton John and Bernie Taupin would go on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song for '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again.'
© Getty Images
58 / 62 Fotos
Awards and retirement
- He has won two Oscars, two Golden Globes, a Tony, multiple Grammys, and many more awards. But in January 2018, Elton John announced he was retiring from touring, and the following September began a three-year farewell tour (which had to be paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ended up stretching in 2023).
© Getty Images
59 / 62 Fotos
His final show in America
- He played his final show in the US on November 20, 2022, in Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium—the same place where the icon first cemented his global status back in 1975. "It's the last show of my final tour in America, so let’s end it with a bang, shall we?" John tweeted. It was an emotional affair, but the legend was joined in his historic final LA show with special guests Dua Lipa, Heidi Klum, and Dita Von Teese.
© Getty Images
60 / 62 Fotos
The highest-grossing tour of all time
- According to figures reported by the Billboard Boxscore, the tour had grossed US$817.9 million across 278 shows by the beginning of 2023, beating out Ed Sheeran who previously held the record for the highest-grossing tour in history with The Divide Tour at US$776.4 million in 2019. He then became the first artist whose tour surpassed US$900 million. The rocketman sure knows how to go out with a bang.
© Getty Images
61 / 62 Fotos
© Getty Images
0 / 62 Fotos
Reginald Kenneth Dwight - Elton John was actually born Reginald Kenneth Dwight.
© Getty Images
1 / 62 Fotos
A star is born - He was born on March 25, 1947, and is from Pinner, Middlesex in England.
© Getty Images
2 / 62 Fotos
Child prodigy - He showed an early talent for music, winning a junior scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London at the age of 11.
© Getty Images
3 / 62 Fotos
Working his way up - At 15, he started a regular gig playing pubs and bars.
© Getty Images
4 / 62 Fotos
Bluesology - In 1962, the future star and some friends founded Bluesology, a band that would experience success in the mid-60s.
© Getty Images
5 / 62 Fotos
Elton John is born - In 1967, he changed his name to Elton John in homage to his Bluesology band members, Elton Dean and Long John Baldry.
© Getty Images
6 / 62 Fotos
The songwriter - John formally began a career as a songwriter in 1968. He was also a session musician at this time, and provided backing vocals.
© Getty Images
7 / 62 Fotos
First album - He released his first album, 'Empty Sky,' in 1969.
© Getty Images
8 / 62 Fotos
'Elton John' - His second album, 'Elton John,' was released in 1970.
© Getty Images
9 / 62 Fotos
'Your Song' - The album's second single, 'Your Song,' was John’s first big hit. It helped the album hit the top five in the UK and the US.
© Getty Images
10 / 62 Fotos
'Tumbleweed Connection' - He followed that up with the album 'Tumbleweed Connection' in 1970.
© Getty Images
11 / 62 Fotos
'Madman Across the Water'
- Album 'Madman Across the Water' was released in 1971.
© Getty Images
12 / 62 Fotos
'17-11-70' - The live album '17-11-70' was also released in 1971.
© Getty Images
13 / 62 Fotos
'Honky Château' - The album 'Honky Château' was released in 1972.
© Getty Images
14 / 62 Fotos
'‘Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player' - Album 'Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player' came out in 1973.
© Getty Images
15 / 62 Fotos
'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road' - That year also saw the release of the classic Elton John album 'Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.'
© Getty Images
16 / 62 Fotos
The Rocket Record Company
- John founded his own label, The Rocket Record Company, in 1973.
© Getty Images
17 / 62 Fotos
'Caribou' - The album 'Caribou' was released in 1974.
© Getty Images
18 / 62 Fotos
'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' - He released the album 'Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy' in 1975.
© Getty Images
19 / 62 Fotos
Hollywood Walk of Fame - John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1975.
© Getty Images
20 / 62 Fotos
'Rock of the Westies' - He released his 10th studio album, 'Rock of the Westies,' in 1975.
© Getty Images
21 / 62 Fotos
'Here and There' - Live album 'Here and There' was released in 1976.
© Getty Images
22 / 62 Fotos
'Blue Moves' - Another album, 'Blue Moves,' was released just a few months later.
© Getty Images
23 / 62 Fotos
Coming out - That same year, he told Rolling Stone magazine that he was bisexual. In 1984, he married close friend Renate Blauel, but the marriage only lasted three years. He came out as gay in 1988.
© Getty Images
24 / 62 Fotos
Watford Football Club - John became the owner of Watford Football Club in 1976. He owned the club until 1987, and then again from 1997 to 2002.
© Getty Images
25 / 62 Fotos
'A Single Man' - He released the album 'A Single Man' in 1978.
© Getty Images
26 / 62 Fotos
'Victim of Love'
- Album 'Victim of Love' was released in 1979.
© Getty Images
27 / 62 Fotos
'21 at 33'
- He released album '21 at 33' in 1980.
© Getty Images
28 / 62 Fotos
'The Fox' - Album 'The Fox' was released in 1981.
© Getty Images
29 / 62 Fotos
'Jump Up!' - He released the album 'Jump Up!' in 1982.
© Getty Images
30 / 62 Fotos
'Too Low for Zero' - The album 'Too Low for Zero' was released in 1983.
© Getty Images
31 / 62 Fotos
'Breaking Hearts' - Album 'Breaking Hearts' was released in 1984.
© Getty Images
32 / 62 Fotos
'Ice on Fire' - 'Ice on Fire' was released in 1985.
© Getty Images
33 / 62 Fotos
'Leather Jackets'
- He released the album 'Leather Jackets' in 1986.
© Getty Images
34 / 62 Fotos
'Live in Australia' - 'Live in Australia' was released in 1987.
© Getty Images
35 / 62 Fotos
'Reg Strikes Back' - Album 'Reg Strikes Back' was released in 1988.
© Getty Images
36 / 62 Fotos
'Sleeping with the Past' - Album 'Sleeping with the Past' came out in 1989.
© Getty Images
37 / 62 Fotos
'The One' - Album 'The One' was released in 1992.
© Getty Images
38 / 62 Fotos
Elton John AIDS Foundation - He established the Elton John AIDS Foundation in 1992. It has raised hundreds of millions of dollars.
© Getty Images
39 / 62 Fotos
'Duets' - 'Duets' was released in 1993.
© Getty Images
40 / 62 Fotos
David Furnish - Elton John and David Furnish became a couple in 1993. They entered into a civil partnership in 2005, and wed in 2014 after same-sex marriage became legal in England. They have two sons together.
© Getty Images
41 / 62 Fotos
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame - Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994.
© Getty Images
42 / 62 Fotos
'Made in England' - He released the album 'Made in England' in 1995.
© Getty Images
43 / 62 Fotos
Sir Elton John - He was named to the Order of the British Empire in 1996, and made a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998.
© Getty Images
44 / 62 Fotos
'The Big Picture'
- He released 'The Big Picture' in 1997.
© Getty Images
45 / 62 Fotos
'Candle in the Wind 1997' - He released the song 'Candle in the Wind 1997' following friend Princess Diana's death. It sold over 33 million copies worldwide.
© Getty Images
46 / 62 Fotos
'One Night Only – The Greatest Hits' - 'One Night Only – The Greatest Hits' was released in 2000.
© Getty Images
47 / 62 Fotos
'Songs from the West Coast' - The album 'Songs from the West Coast' was released in 2001.
© Getty Images
48 / 62 Fotos
Las Vegas - In 2004, he began a concert residency at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. After wrapping up that residency in 2009, he returned to Sin City with a new show in 2011, which ended in May 2018.
© Getty Images
49 / 62 Fotos
'Peachtree Road' - Album 'Peachtree Road' was released in 2004.
© Getty Images
50 / 62 Fotos
'Elton John's Christmas Party' - 'Elton John's Christmas Party' was released in 2005.
© Getty Images
51 / 62 Fotos
'The Captain & the Kid' - He released 'The Captain & the Kid' in 2006.
© Getty Images
52 / 62 Fotos
'The Union' - 'The Union' was released in 2010.
© Getty Images
53 / 62 Fotos
'Good Morning to the Night' - 'Good Morning to the Night' was released in 2012.
© Getty Images
54 / 62 Fotos
'The Diving Board' - Album 'The Diving Board' was released in 2013.
© Getty Images
55 / 62 Fotos
'Wonderful Crazy Night' - His last studio album, 'Wonderful Crazy Night,' was released in 2016.
© Getty Images
56 / 62 Fotos
Movies and musicals - John has also achieved huge success with soundtracks, including 'The Lion King,' and on Broadway, with shows like 'Billy Elliot the Musical.'
© Getty Images
57 / 62 Fotos
Biopic
- In May 2019, 'Rocketman,' a biopic starring Taron Egerton as Elton John, hit theaters. Elton John and Bernie Taupin would go on to win the Oscar for Best Original Song for '(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again.'
© Getty Images
58 / 62 Fotos
Awards and retirement
- He has won two Oscars, two Golden Globes, a Tony, multiple Grammys, and many more awards. But in January 2018, Elton John announced he was retiring from touring, and the following September began a three-year farewell tour (which had to be paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic and ended up stretching in 2023).
© Getty Images
59 / 62 Fotos
His final show in America
- He played his final show in the US on November 20, 2022, in Los Angeles's Dodger Stadium—the same place where the icon first cemented his global status back in 1975. "It's the last show of my final tour in America, so let’s end it with a bang, shall we?" John tweeted. It was an emotional affair, but the legend was joined in his historic final LA show with special guests Dua Lipa, Heidi Klum, and Dita Von Teese.
© Getty Images
60 / 62 Fotos
The highest-grossing tour of all time
- According to figures reported by the Billboard Boxscore, the tour had grossed US$817.9 million across 278 shows by the beginning of 2023, beating out Ed Sheeran who previously held the record for the highest-grossing tour in history with The Divide Tour at US$776.4 million in 2019. He then became the first artist whose tour surpassed US$900 million. The rocketman sure knows how to go out with a bang.
© Getty Images
61 / 62 Fotos
Elton John’s ‘Never Too Late’ is nominated for Best Original Song
The song is from the ‘Elton John: Never Too Late’ documentary released in 2024
© Getty Images
Elton John has received an Oscar nomination for his song ‘Never Too Late’ in the Best Original Song category. He co-wrote it with Brandi Carlile, Bernie Taupin, and Andrew Watt to be the official soundtrack for the ‘Elton John: Never Too Late’ Disney+ documentary.
He thanked all of his supporters in a post on Instagram. “It’s an incredible honour to receive this nomination for ‘Never Too Late’, alongside my collaborators Brandi Carlile, Bernie Taupin and Andrew Watt. Thank you to the Academy for this nomination and to everyone who helped bring this beautiful song to the world.”
Elton John has received Oscar nominations for other songs of his in the past, including three songs from 'The Lion King' (1994) and '(I’m Gonna) Love Me Again' from 'Rocketman' (2019). He won the award for the latter song.
Sir Elton John has sold more than 300 million records throughout his career. In recent years, he's seen the success of the aforementioned biopic on his life, the release of a memoir that made headlines, and the highest-grossing tour of all time.
Naturally, it's the perfect time to look back on Elton John's fascinating career and life. Click on to do exactly that!
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