Although Elton John is celebrated for his extraordinary career, the 77-year-old is confronted with the reality of his mortality as his two young children voice their fears about losing their father.
As one of the esteemed celebrities holding the prestigious EGOT title, John’s nearly six decades of artistic contributions will endure indefinitely. However, the “Rocket Man,” who has faced several serious health challenges and is now described as a “ticking time bomb,” acknowledges that his sons are worried about his mortality and that he’ll miss significant milestones in their lives.
Facing Mortality
Despite being a legendary figure in the music industry, the “Can You Feel the Love Tonight” singer is acutely aware of his own mortality and shares his sons’ concerns about his impending death.
In the film, John reflects on Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, saying, “They think about my mortality. They worry about my mortality.”
He adds, referring to his partner Furnish, “Not so much David, but me.”
The “Sad Songs” singer explains that Zachary and Elijah “love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever, and I would love to be around forever.”
However, in a world where death is unavoidable, the singer-songwriter acknowledges that he will probably miss many of his sons’ significant milestones.
“I want to see them have children and get married. I don’t think I’m going to be around for that. Who knows? You never know.” says the “Nikita” singer “So that’s why I want to use the best time, the best of my time, while I’m around…Time together is so wonderful and so precious.”
“Genuinely so happy”
Meanwhile, Furnish reveals that his famous husband experienced “a lot of anxiety” while watching scenes that focused on his mortality.
“I don’t think it’s a conversation you want to have with your children. I don’t want to plant that seed in their mind,” Furnish explains. “Elton’s been through a lot, but he’s also as strong as an ox. He rarely cancels shows. He’s a strong man, and he’s a healer. He’ll probably outlive me. He’s just so tough.”
Furnish shares that having the boys was an “instant epiphany” that prompted his husband to retire from touring.
“He’s not going back on the road. He’s genuinely so happy,” Furnish explains, adding that after 30 years together, the couple has finally reached “this moment that we’ve only ever dreamed of.”