Career Timeline of Elton John: Major Achievements and Milestones
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Elton John made an impact.
Sir Elton John is a highly successful British singer, songwriter, and pianist renowned for his musical talent and flamboyant stage presence. His long-standing songwriting collaboration with Bernie Taupin has produced numerous hit songs. As a testament to his widespread impact, he has sold over 300 million records globally, securing his position as one of the best-selling music artists ever and achieving EGOT status.
1962: Formation of Bluesology
In 1962, Elton John and some friends formed a band called Bluesology, marking his early involvement in music.
1966: Bluesology backs Long John Baldry
In 1966, Bluesology became Long John Baldry's supporting band and played 16 times at the Marquee Club.
1967: Meeting Bernie Taupin
In 1967, Elton John answered an advertisement in New Musical Express and met Bernie Taupin. They recorded the first John/Taupin song, "Scarecrow", starting their decades-long partnership.
1967: Collaboration with Bernie Taupin Begins
In 1967, Elton John began writing with Bernie Taupin after answering an advertisement in New Musical Express.
1968: DJM Records Staff Songwriters
In 1968, Elton John and Bernie Taupin joined Dick James's DJM Records as staff songwriters, writing material for various artists.
1968: Recording of Regimental Sgt. Zippo
In 1968, Elton John recorded "Regimental Sgt. Zippo" as his debut album; however, it was shelved.
1969: Eurovision Song Contest Contender
In 1969, Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote "I Can't Go On (Living Without You)" for Lulu as a contender for the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest, but it came sixth of six songs. John also played piano on Roger Hodgson's first single, "Mr. Boyd" by Argosy.
1969: Debut Album Release
In 1969, Elton John released his debut album, "Empty Sky", marking the beginning of his professional music career.
April 1970: "Elton John" Album Release
In April 1970, Elton John released his self-titled album, "Elton John", establishing a formula for subsequent albums. The first single, "Border Song," peaked at 92 on the Billboard Hot 100.
August 1970: First American Concert
On August 25, 1970, Elton John performed his first American concert at the Troubadour in Los Angeles, California, which was a success.
1971: Soundtrack for the Film "Friends"
In 1971, Elton John and Bernie Taupin wrote the soundtrack to the film "Friends" and the album "Madman Across the Water" was released.
1972: Davey Johnstone Joins the Band; Honky Château Release
In 1972, Davey Johnstone joined the Elton John Band, and the album "Honky Château" was released, becoming John's first US number one album and spawning the hit singles "Rocket Man" and "Honky Cat".
1973: "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" Album Release
At the start of 1973, the album "Don't Shoot Me I'm Only the Piano Player" was released, reaching number one in the UK, the US, and Australia. It produced the hits "Crocodile Rock" and "Daniel".
1973: Original Release of "Candle in the Wind"
In 1973, Elton John and Bernie Taupin released the original version of the song "Candle in the Wind".
1974: Collaboration with John Lennon
In 1974, Elton John collaborated with John Lennon on his cover of The Beatles' "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds" and was featured on "Whatever Gets You Thru the Night". They performed together at Madison Square Garden.
1974: Formation of Rocket Record Company
In 1974, Elton John formed his own label, The Rocket Record Company, and signed acts like Neil Sedaka and Kiki Dee. He also signed an $8 million contract with MCA.
June 1975: New Line-up Introduced at Wembley Stadium
In June 1975, Elton John introduced his new band line-up at Wembley Stadium in London, England. This followed a decision reached with his manager John Reid to change the band's rhythm section.
October 1975: Star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
In October 1975, Elton John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
1975: Consecutive Number One Albums in the US
From 1972 to 1975, Elton John had seven consecutive albums reach number one in the US. This was a previously unattained feat.
1975: Part Owner of Los Angeles Aztecs
From late 1975 to 1976, Elton John was a part-owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League.
1975: Release of "Philadelphia Freedom"
In 1975, Elton John released the song "Philadelphia Freedom" in tribute to his friend Billie Jean King's World Team Tennis team, the Philadelphia Freedoms.
1975: Financing Monty Python Film
In 1975, Elton John was among a group of musicians who helped finance the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
1975: Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy Debuts at Number One
In 1975, Elton John's autobiographical album, "Captain Fantastic and the Brown Dirt Cowboy", debuted at number one in the US, remaining there for seven weeks. The album revealed John's personality and described his and Taupin's early days. The album's release also signaled the end of the original Elton John Band.
May 1976: "Here and There" Live Album Release
In May 1976, the live album "Here and There" by Elton John was released.
1976: Elton John's Most Successful Period and Number One Success
1970-1976 marked Elton John's most commercially successful and critically acclaimed period. During this period, he had six singles reach number one on the Billboard Hot 100.
1976: Part Owner of Los Angeles Aztecs
From late 1975 to 1976, Elton John was a part-owner of the Los Angeles Aztecs of the North American Soccer League.
1976: Chairman and Director of Watford
In 1976, Elton John became the chairman and director of Watford, after supporting the team since his youth.
November 1977: Retirement Announcement
In November 1977, Elton John announced his retirement from performing.
1978: A Single Man Album Release
In 1978, Elton John released the album "A Single Man" with lyricist Gary Osborne. The album produced "Part-Time Love" and "Song for Guy" which were released in the UK and both made the top 20, with the latter reaching the top 5.
May 1979: Concerts in the Soviet Union
In May 1979, Elton John performed eight concerts in the Soviet Union, with four dates in Leningrad (now Saint Petersburg) and four in Moscow.
1979: Tour of Soviet Union and US Top Ten Return
In 1979, Elton John, accompanied by Ray Cooper, toured the Soviet Union and Israel. Also in 1979, he returned to the US top ten with "Mama Can't Buy You Love".
September 1980: Free Concert on The Great Lawn in Central Park
On September 13, 1980, Elton John, with Olsson and Murray back in the band, performed a free concert to an estimated 400,000 fans on The Great Lawn in Central Park in New York City. He played part of the set dressed as Donald Duck.
1980: "21 at 33" Album Release and Collaboration with France Gall and Michel Berger
In 1980, Elton John released "21 at 33", which featured the hit "Little Jeannie". Also, John collaborated with France Gall and Michel Berger on the songs "Donner pour donner" and "Les Aveux".
1981: "The Fox" Album Release
In 1981, Elton John's album "The Fox", which included collaborations with Tom Robinson and Judie Tzuke, was released.
December 1982: Performance with Kiki Dee
Elton John performed "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee for the first time since the Hammersmith Odeon on December 24, 1982.
1982: "Jump Up!" Album Release
In 1982, Elton John released the album "Jump Up!", with "Blue Eyes" as its biggest hit.
1983: Reunion with Taupin and "Too Low For Zero" Album
In 1983, Elton John and Bernie Taupin reunited and collaborated on the album "Too Low For Zero".
1983: Watford Finished Runners Up
In 1983, Watford finished runners up in the First Division.
1984: Marriage to Renate Blauel and "Breaking Hearts" Album Release
In 1984, Elton John married Renate Blauel on Valentine's Day. He also released the album "Breaking Hearts", which featured the song "Sad Songs (Say So Much)".
1984: FA Cup Final Appearance
In 1984, Watford reached the FA Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
1985: Recording "That's What Friends Are For"
In 1985, Elton John joined Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight and Stevie Wonder to record the single "That's What Friends Are For", with profits donated to the American Foundation for AIDS Research.
1985: Live Aid Performance and "Nikita" Release
In 1985, Elton John performed at Live Aid at Wembley Stadium, playing "Bennie and the Jets," "Rocket Man," and "Don't Go Breaking My Heart" with Kiki Dee. He also released "Nikita" from the album "Ice on Fire".
1986: "That's What Friends Are For" and Live Orchestral Version of "Candle in the Wind"
In 1986, Elton John collaborated with Dionne Warwick, Gladys Knight, and Stevie Wonder on "That's What Friends Are For", which reached number one in the US and raised funds for HIV/AIDS research. A live orchestral version of "Candle in the Wind" also reached number six in the US. In the same year, Elton John also played piano on two tracks of the heavy metal band Saxon's album Rock the Nations.
1986: Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
In 1986, Elton John received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
1986: Involvement in Charity Fundraising Events
Since 1986, Elton John has been involved in charity fundraising events.
1987: Sale of Watford to Jack Petchey
In 1987, Elton John sold the Watford Football Club to Jack Petchey but remained president.
1988: Madison Square Garden Shows and Memorabilia Auction
In 1988, Elton John performed five sold-out shows at Madison Square Garden in New York, bringing his career total to 26. Also in 1988, 2,000 items of John's memorabilia were auctioned off at Sotheby's in London.
1990: Diet Coke Commercials
Beginning in 1990, Elton John appeared in commercials for Diet Coke.
1990: First Solo UK Number One Hit with "Sacrifice"
In 1990, Elton John achieved his first solo UK number one hit single, with "Sacrifice" (coupled with "Healing Hands"), which stayed at the top spot for five weeks.
1991: Brit Award for Best British Male
In 1991, Elton John received the Brit Award for Best British Male.
April 1992: Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert
In April 1992, Elton John performed at the Freddie Mercury Tribute Concert at Wembley Stadium, singing "The Show Must Go On" with Queen and "Bohemian Rhapsody" with Axl Rose and Queen.
1992: Induction into the Songwriters Hall of Fame
In 1992, Elton John and Bernie Taupin were inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
1992: Elton John AIDS Foundation Establishment
In 1992, Elton John established the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which has raised over £300 million since its inception.
1992: "The One" Album Release and Publishing Deal
In 1992, Elton John released the album "The One", his first album recorded entirely sober, featuring the hit song of the same name. He also released "Runaway Train", a duet with Eric Clapton, and signed a music publishing deal with Warner/Chappell Music.
1993: Annual Academy Award Party
In 1993, Elton John began hosting his annual Academy Award Party to raise money for his AIDS charity.
1993: Duets Album Release and "The Bunbury Tails" Soundtrack
In 1993, Elton John released "Duets", featuring collaborations with 15 artists, including "True Love" with Kiki Dee. He also contributed "Up The Revolution" to "The Bunbury Tails" soundtrack.
1994: The Lion King Musical Score
In 1994, Elton John composed music for "The Lion King", marking his success in musical films and theatre.
1994: Academy Award and Golden Globe for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight"
In 1994, Elton John received the Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King, shared with Tim Rice.
1994: Induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 1994, Elton John was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by Axl Rose of Guns N' Roses.
1994: The Lion King Soundtrack and Academy Award Win
In 1994, Elton John wrote the songs for Disney's "The Lion King" with Tim Rice. He won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight".
September 1995: Appearance on Randy Newman's Faust
In September 1995, Elton John appeared as Angel Rick on the original studio album of Randy Newman's musical Faust.
1995: Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music
In 1995, Elton John received a Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music.
December 1996: "Live Like Horses" Release
In December 1996, Elton John's duet with Luciano Pavarotti, "Live Like Horses", reached number nine in the UK.
September 1997: Performance of "Candle in the Wind 1997" at Diana's Funeral
In September 1997, Elton John performed "Candle in the Wind 1997" live at Princess Diana's funeral in Westminster Abbey. The song became the fastest-selling and biggest-selling single of all time, selling over 33 million copies globally, raising approximately £55 million for Diana's charities.
September 1997: Performance at Music for Montserrat Charity Concert
On September 15, 1997, Elton John performed at the Music for Montserrat charity concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. He sang three songs solo and finished with "Hey Jude" alongside other artists.
December 1997: Appearance in Spice World Film
In December 1997, Elton John appeared as himself in the Spice Girls film Spice World.
1997: Presentation of Empire Inspiration Award
At the 2nd Empire Awards in 1997, Elton John presented the comedy group Monty Python with the Empire Inspiration Award.
1997: "Candle in the Wind 1997" Release
In 1997, Elton John released "Candle in the Wind 1997", a tribute single to Diana, Princess of Wales. It became the best-selling chart single of all time, selling over 33 million copies worldwide.
1997: The Lion King Musical Debuts on Broadway
In 1997, The Lion King musical debuted on Broadway.
1998: "Candle in the Wind 1997" Wins Grammy Award
In 1998, "Candle in the Wind 1997" won the Grammy Award for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance at the 40th Annual Grammy Awards.
1998: End of Management Relationship with John Reid
In 1998, John Reid stopped being Elton John's manager, ending the professional relationship.
November 1999: "The Lion King" Certified Diamond
On November 10, 1999, "The Lion King" soundtrack was certified "Diamond" by the RIAA for selling 15 million copies.
1999: The Lion King Debuts in West End and Aida Composed
In 1999, The Lion King musical debuted in London's West End. Also in 1999, Elton John composed music for Disney's musical production Aida with lyricist Tim Rice.
2000: Aida Musical Score
In 2000, Elton John composed music for "Aida", adding to his success in musical films and theatre.
2000: Tony Award for Aida
In 2000, Elton John received the Tony Award for Best Original Score for Aida, shared with Tim Rice.
2000: Inspiration from the film Billy Elliot
In 2000, Elton John was moved to write Billy Elliot the Musical after seeing the British coming-of-age film Billy Elliot.
2000: MusiCares Person of the Year
In 2000, Elton John was named the MusiCares Person of the Year for his artistic achievement in the music industry and dedication to philanthropy.
2001: Performance at the Grammy Awards and Concert for New York City
In 2001, Elton John performed "Stan" with Eminem at the Grammy Awards. One month after the 9/11 attacks, he appeared at the Concert for New York City, performing "I Want Love" and "Your Song" with Billy Joel.
2002: Stepped Down as Chairman
In 2002, Elton John stepped down as chairman of Watford because the club needed a full-time chairman, but he continued as president.
August 2003: "Are You Ready for Love" Tops UK Charts
In August 2003, Elton John's fifth UK number one single, "Are You Ready for Love", topped the charts.
February 2004: First "The Red Piano" Show
On February 13, 2004, the first of Elton John's shows, titled "The Red Piano", took place at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas.
2004: Kennedy Center Honor
Elton John received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2004.
July 2005: Featured on Tupac Shakur's Posthumous Single
In July 2005, Elton John featured on rapper Tupac Shakur's posthumous single "Ghetto Gospel", which topped the UK charts.
2005: Billy Elliot the Musical Score
In 2005, Elton John composed music for "Billy Elliot the Musical", adding to his success in musical films and theatre.
2005: Composes Music for Billy Elliot the Musical
In 2005, Elton John composed music for the West End theatre production of Billy Elliot the Musical with playwright Lee Hall.
2005: Concert at Vicarage Road
In 2005, Elton John held a concert at Watford's home stadium, Vicarage Road, and donated the proceeds to the club.
2005: Release of "Ghetto Gospel"
In 2005, Elton John released "Ghetto Gospel", his last number one song in the UK before "Cold Heart".
2005: Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award
In 2005, Elton John was awarded the Society of Singers Lifetime Achievement Award.
February 2006: Performance with Celine Dion
In February 2006, Elton John and Celine Dion performed together at Caesars Palace to raise money for Harrah's Entertainment Inc. workers affected by the 2005 hurricanes.
May 2006: Lestat Closes After Negative Reviews
In May 2006, Lestat, Elton John's theatrical project with Bernie Taupin, closed after 39 performances due to negative reviews from critics.
October 2006: Named a Disney Legend
On October 9, 2006, The Walt Disney Company named Elton John a Disney Legend for his contributions to Disney's films and theatrical works.
2006: Disney Legends Award
Elton John received a Disney Legends Award in 2006.
2006: Touring band since The Captain & the Kid.
In 2006 Elton John first full album recorded with his touring band since The Captain & the Kid.
March 2007: 60th Birthday Concert at Madison Square Garden
In March 2007, Elton John performed at Madison Square Garden for a record-breaking 60th time for his 60th birthday. The concert was broadcast live and a DVD recording was released as Elton 60 – Live at Madison Square Garden. His back catalogue became available for legal paid download.
June 2007: Ninth Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
On June 28, 2007, the ninth annual White Tie & Tiara Ball was held at Elton John's home in Old Windsor, Berkshire, raising £3.5 million for his AIDS charity through an auction and performances with Tom Jones and Shirley Bassey.
July 2007: Performance at Concert for Diana
On July 1, 2007, Elton John appeared at the Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, on what would have been her 46th birthday. John opened the concert with "Your Song" and closed it with multiple songs.
2007: Elton John Charitable Trust Founded
In 2007, Elton John and his husband David Furnish founded the Elton John Charitable Trust, which has supported over 100 charities.
2007: Kanye West Sampled "Someone Saved My Life Tonight"
In 2007, Kanye West sampled Elton John's "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" on his song "Good Morning".
June 2008: 200th Show at Caesars Palace
On June 21, 2008, Elton John performed his 200th show at Caesars Palace.
September 2008: Announcement of "Face to Face" Tour with Billy Joel
In September 2008, Elton John mentioned in an interview that he would be going on the road again with Billy Joel for the "Face to Face" tour next year.
November 2008: Release of The Red Piano DVD/CD Package
In November 2008, a DVD/CD package of The Red Piano was released through Best Buy.
September 2009: Collaboration with Alice in Chains
In September 2009, Elton John collaborated with Alice in Chains, playing piano on the song "Black Gives Way to Blue", a tribute to Layne Staley. The song was the title track and closing song of the album Black Gives Way to Blue.
October 2010: Release of The Union
On October 19, 2010, Elton John released The Union, a collaboration album with Leon Russell. He stated that he did not have to make pop records anymore.
2010: Concert at Vicarage Road
In 2010, Elton John held a concert at Watford's home stadium, Vicarage Road, and donated proceeds to the club.
2010: PRS for Music Heritage Award
In 2010, Elton John received the PRS for Music Heritage Award, which was erected on The Namaste Lounge Pub in Northwood, London, where he performed his first gig.
2010: Collaboration with Kanye West
In 2010, Kanye West invited Elton John to his Hawaii studio to play piano and sing on "All of the Lights".
September 2011: New Show The Million Dollar Piano
On September 28, 2011, Elton John began his new show, The Million Dollar Piano, at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
October 2011: 3000th Concert
On October 8, 2011, Elton John performed his 3000th concert at Caesars Palace.
2011: White Tie & Tiara Ball
In 2011, the White Tie & Tiara Ball raised £5 million for Elton John's foundation, bringing the total raised by the balls to £45 million. Guests included Sarah Ferguson, Elizabeth Hurley, and George Michael.
February 2012: First Concert in Costa Rica
On February 3, 2012, Elton John visited Costa Rica for the first time, performing at the National Stadium.
June 2012: Performance at Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Concert
On June 4, 2012, Elton John performed at Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace, playing a three-song set.
July 2012: Release of Good Morning to the Night
In July 2012, the album Good Morning to the Night, containing remixes of songs recorded in the 1970s by Australian group Pnau, was released and reached number one in the UK.
February 2013: Duet with Ed Sheeran at Grammy Awards
In February 2013, Elton John performed a duet with Ed Sheeran at the 55th Annual Grammy Awards.
September 2013: Receives Brits Icon Award
In September 2013, Elton John received the first Brits Icon Award for his "lasting impact" on the culture of the United Kingdom. He performed a duet of "Sad Songs (Say So Much)" with Rod Stewart.
September 2013: Release of The Diving Board
In September 2013, Elton John's 31st album, The Diving Board, was released and reached number three in the UK and number four in the US.
2013: Brits Icon Award
In 2013, Elton John received the first Brits Icon award in recognition of his "lasting impact" on UK culture.
December 2014: Opening of the "Sir Elton John stand"
On 13 December 2014, Elton John appeared at Watford's Vicarage Road with his husband and sons for the opening of the "Sir Elton John stand".
2014: The Lion King Becomes Top-Earning Title
By 2014, The Lion King had grossed over $6 billion and became the top-earning title in box-office history for both stage productions and films.
2014: Elton John Sports Fund Launched
In 2014, Elton John launched the Elton John Sports Fund to help citizens with training and competition costs for over 50 sports.
October 2015: Announcement of Wonderful Crazy Night
In October 2015, it was announced that Elton John would release his 32nd studio album, Wonderful Crazy Night, on 5 February 2016. The album's first single, "Looking Up", was released in the same month.
December 2015: Billy Elliot's Success
As of December 2015, Billy Elliot had been seen by over 5.25 million people in London and nearly 11 million people worldwide, grossing over $800 million and winning over 80 theatre awards internationally.
February 2016: Release of Wonderful Crazy Night
In February 2016, Elton John's 32nd studio album, Wonderful Crazy Night, was released. This marked John's first full album recorded with his touring band since 2006's The Captain & the Kid.
April 2016: Billy Elliot the Musical Closes in London
In April 2016, after 4,566 performances, the London production of Billy Elliot the Musical closed.
January 2017: Composing for The Devil Wears Prada Musical
On January 26, 2017, it was announced that Elton John would compose the score for the Broadway musical version of The Devil Wears Prada.
May 2017: Show Cancellations
Due to a bacterial infection contracted in April 2017, Elton John was forced to cancel all of his shows scheduled for April and May 2017.
June 2017: Appearance in The American Epic Sessions
In June 2017, Elton John appeared in The American Epic Sessions, recording "Two Fingers of Whiskey" live on the restored first electrical sound recording system from the 1920s.
September 2017: Role in Kingsman: The Golden Circle
In September 2017, Elton John played a major role as himself in the action movie Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
November 2017: 50-year partnership
In November 2017, Elton John commented on his 50-year partnership with Bernie Taupin.
2017: Appearance in Kingsman: The Golden Circle
In 2017, Elton John appeared as a fictionalized version of himself alongside Taron Egerton in the film Kingsman: The Golden Circle.
January 2018: Announcement of Retirement from Touring
On January 24, 2018, Elton John announced his retirement from touring and a three-year farewell tour, citing family reasons.
September 2018: Farewell Tour Begins and Signs Agreement with UMG
In September 2018, Elton John's farewell tour began in Allentown, Pennsylvania. He also reportedly signed an agreement with Universal Music Group (UMG) to represent his new music and work from the last 50 years.
2018: Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour Start
In 2018, Elton John began his final tour, "Farewell Yellow Brick Road", which later became the highest-grossing tour ever at the time.
2018: John Lewis Christmas Advert
In 2018, Elton John's John Lewis & Partners Christmas advert, titled "The Boy & The Piano", was shown in the UK. It shows him reminiscing about his life and career in reverse, culminating with Christmas Day in the 1950s when he received a piano for Christmas from his mother.
May 2019: Rocketman film release
In May 2019, Paramount Pictures released Rocketman, a biopic about Elton John's life from his childhood to the 1980s. Dexter Fletcher directed the film, starring Taron Egerton as Elton John.
October 2019: Release of Autobiography "Me"
In October 2019, Elton John released "Me", which he described as his first and only autobiography. Taron Egerton narrated the audiobook version, with Elton John reading the prologue and epilogue.
2019: Golden Globe and Academy Award for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again"
In 2019, Elton John received the Golden Globe and Academy Award for Best Original Song for "(I'm Gonna) Love Me Again", shared with Bernie Taupin.
2019: Release of "Me: Elton John Official Autobiography"
In 2019, Elton John released "Me: Elton John Official Autobiography", which was later the subject of a lawsuit from Renate Blauel in 2020.
February 2020: Show Cut Short Due to Pneumonia
On February 16, 2020, Elton John's first show at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland, New Zealand was cut short due to walking pneumonia. He lost his voice during the show but was cleared to perform the next show on February 19.
October 2020: Called Attention to Nagorno-Karabakh Conflict
In October 2020, Elton John called attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan in an Instagram post.
2020: Collaboration on "Ordinary Man" and "Sine from Above"
In early 2020, Elton John played piano on Ozzy Osbourne's rock ballad "Ordinary Man", released on Osbourne's album of the same name. On May 29, 2020, his duet with Lady Gaga, "Sine from Above", from her album Chromatica, was released.
June 2021: Release of "Regimental Sgt. Zippo"
On June 12, 2021, Elton John released "Regimental Sgt. Zippo". Recorded in 1968 as his debut album, it was shelved in favor of 1969's Empty Sky and released vinyl-only for Record Store Day.
September 2021: Contribution to The Metallica Blacklist
In September 2021, Elton John contributed to the charity tribute album "The Metallica Blacklist" by backing Miley Cyrus on a cover of the Metallica song "Nothing Else Matters".
September 2021: Announcement of The Lockdown Sessions album
On September 1, 2021, Elton John announced his new collaboration album, "The Lockdown Sessions", made during the first COVID-19 lockdown. The album would be released in October 2021.
October 2021: "Cold Heart" Peaks at Number One in the UK
In October 2021, "Cold Heart (PNAU remix)" peaked at number one in the UK, marking Elton John's first UK number one in 16 years since 2005's "Ghetto Gospel". This achievement made him the first solo artist to have top 10 singles in the UK in six different decades.
October 2021: Release of The Lockdown Sessions album
On October 22, 2021, Elton John released the collaboration album "The Lockdown Sessions". Artists featured on the album include Eddie Vedder, Miley Cyrus, Dua Lipa, Lil Nas X, Gorillaz, Nicki Minaj, Young Thug, Stevie Wonder, Rina Sawayama, Charlie Puth, and Stevie Nicks.
November 2021: Release of "Merry Christmas" with Ed Sheeran
On November 29, 2021, Elton John and Ed Sheeran released "Merry Christmas", a duet single for charity, drawing inspiration from the 2003 film Love Actually. The UK profits from the song were donated to the Elton John AIDS Foundation and the Ed Sheeran Suffolk Music Foundation.
2021: UK Top 10 Singles Across Six Decades
In 2021, Elton John became the first solo artist with UK top 10 singles across six decades, marking a significant achievement in his career.
2021: Collaborative Album "The Lockdown Sessions"
In 2021, Elton John collaborated with young artists on the album The Lockdown Sessions and interviewed them on his Apple Music radio show Rocket Hour.
January 2022: Resumption of Farewell Tour
In January 2022, Elton John continued his farewell tour for the first time since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, with his first show back taking place in New Orleans, Louisiana.
March 2022: Release of remastered Diamonds album
In March 2022, to celebrate his 75th birthday, Elton John released a digitally remastered version of his Diamonds compilation album on streaming platforms.
August 2022: Collaboration with Britney Spears on "Hold Me Closer"
In August 2022, Elton John collaborated with Britney Spears on the song "Hold Me Closer", which marked Spears' first new musical release in six years. The song achieved commercial success upon release.
October 2022: Opening of "Tammy Faye" Musical
In October 2022, the musical "Tammy Faye", for which Elton John wrote the music, opened at the Almeida Theatre in London, England. The book was written by James Graham and the lyrics by Jake Shears.
November 2022: Appearance in "If These Walls Could Sing"
In November 2022, Elton John was among the people interviewed for the documentary film If These Walls Could Sing, directed by Mary McCartney, about the recording studios at Abbey Road.
2022: Indianapolis Concert
At a 2022 concert in Indianapolis, Elton John credited the family of Ryan White for helping him get sober.
February 2023: Donation to United24
On February 23, 2023, The Elton John AIDS Foundation donated $125,000 via United24 to purchase ten biochemistry analysers to help ensure Ukrainians living with HIV can access quality care and treatment.
June 2023: Glastonbury Festival Headline Performance
On June 25, 2023, Elton John headlined the Glastonbury Festival, closing the festival with a two-hour performance on the Pyramid Stage. During the show, "Pinball Wizard" was played live for the first time in over 10 years. The performance drew the festival's largest-ever TV viewing figures in the UK.
July 2023: Final Concert of the Farewell Tour
On July 8, 2023, Elton John performed the final concert of his farewell tour in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Tele2 Arena. At the time, the tour was the highest-grossing tour ever.
July 2023: Farewell Tour Ends in Stockholm
On July 8, 2023, Elton John's farewell tour ended in Stockholm, Sweden.
2023: Addressed Politicians on Eradicating AIDS
In 2023, Elton John addressed a cross-party gathering of politicians at Westminster and said that the winner of the next general election could help to eradicate AIDS worldwide by the end of the decade.
2023: Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour End
In 2023, Elton John's final tour, "Farewell Yellow Brick Road", concluded, having become the highest-grossing tour ever at the time.
October 2024: Surprise Performance at Documentary Premiere
On October 1, 2024, Elton John made a surprise appearance at the United States premiere of his documentary, Elton John: Never Too Late, at Alice Tully Hall in New York City. He performed "Tiny Dancer", marking his first public performance since the end of his retirement tour.
2024: EGOT Status Achieved
In 2024, Elton John became the 19th person to achieve EGOT status after winning the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Live) for Elton John: Farewell from Dodger Stadium.
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