Early Life and Education of Elton John: A Complete Timeline
An overview of the childhood and early education of Elton John, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.
Sir Elton John is a highly successful British singer, songwriter, and pianist, renowned for his contributions to the music industry. His partnership with lyricist Bernie Taupin has produced numerous hit songs, contributing to over 300 million records sold globally. Elton John's impact extends beyond music, solidifying him as one of the best-selling artists ever and an EGOT winner.
1956: First Exposure to Rock and Roll
In 1956, John was immediately hooked on rock and roll when his mother brought home records by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley & His Comets, marking his early inspiration and defining musical direction.
1959: Cousin Roy Dwight scored in FA Cup Final
In 1959, Elton John's paternal cousin Roy Dwight, a professional footballer, scored for Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup Final before breaking his leg later in the same match.
1970: First gay relationship with John Reid
In 1970, right after his first US shows in Los Angeles, Elton John lost his virginity to and started his first gay relationship with John Reid, the Tamla Motown label manager for the UK, who later became John's manager.
1975: Cocaine Overdose and Bulimia Development
In 1975, the pressures of stardom led to a cocaine overdose during "Elton Week" in Los Angeles, also developing bulimia, highlighting challenges faced during his early career.
1976: Became chairman of Watford Football Club
In 1976, Elton John became the chairman and director of Watford Football Club, which he had supported since his youth.
1976: Coming out as bisexual
In 1976, Elton John came out as bisexual in an interview with Rolling Stone.
1983: Watford finished runners up in the First Division
In 1983, at their height, Watford Football Club finished runners up in the First Division.
February 1984: Marriage to Renate Blauel
On 14 February 1984, Elton John married Renate Blauel, a German recording engineer, at St Mark's Church, Darling Point, Sydney, Australia.
1984: Cried at the Cup Final
In 1984, Elton John cried at the Cup Final when the song "Abide with Me" was played, as it evoked memories of his childhood.
1984: Marriage to Renate Blauel and Release of Breaking Hearts
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)".
1987: Sold Watford Football Club to Jack Petchey
In 1987, Elton John sold Watford Football Club to Jack Petchey, but remained president of the club.
1987: Libel case against The Sun newspaper
In 1987, Elton John won a libel case against The Sun newspaper, which published false allegations that he had had sex with rent boys.
1988: Divorce from Renate Blauel
In 1988, Elton John and Renate Blauel's marriage ended in divorce.
April 1990: Support for Ryan White
In April 1990, John traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana, to be by the side of Ryan White, a teenage haemophiliac whom he had befriended and whose health was deteriorating.
1991: Became a fan of the Atlanta Braves
In 1991, Elton John became a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team after moving to Atlanta, Georgia.
1992: Coming out as gay
In 1992, Elton John told Rolling Stone in another interview that he was "quite comfortable about being gay".
1992: Founding of Elton John AIDS Foundation
In 1992, John founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation after losing two friends to AIDS, raising over $600 million to support HIV-related programs globally.
1993: Relationship with David Furnish begins
In 1993, Elton John began a relationship with David Furnish.
1993: Inauguration of Academy Awards Party
In 1993, John began hosting his annual Academy Awards Party, which has become a high-profile event in Hollywood, raising over US$200 million for his AIDS foundation.
1993: 1993 Jaguar XJ220 sold at auction
In 1993, the Jaguar XJ220 was manufactured. In June 2001, Elton John sold a 1993 Jaguar XJ220 at auction for £234,750 as part of a larger sale of his cars.
January 1996: Spent over £9.6m on property
In January 1996, Elton John spent over £9.6 million on property as part of his extravagant spending habits.
January 1997: 50th Birthday Party and Performance with Queen
Early in 1997 in January, Elton John held a 50th birthday party, costumed as Louis XIV, with 500 friends. He also performed with the surviving members of Queen in Paris at the opening night of Le Presbytère N'a Rien Perdu De Son Charme Ni Le Jardin De Son Éclat.
September 1997: Spent £293,000 on flowers
In September 1997, Elton John spent £293,000 on flowers, showcasing his lavish lifestyle.
1997: Performance at Diana, Princess of Wales's Funeral
In 1997, John performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales, at Westminster Abbey, a significant event reflecting his close relationship with the royal family and his tribute to the late Princess.
2000: Admitted to spending £30 million in under two years
In 2000, Elton John admitted to having spent £30 million in just under two years, which averaged to about £1.5 million a month.
2000: Criticism of Catholic Church beliefs
In 2000, Elton John characterised the beliefs of the Roman Catholic Church on homosexuality as "ignorance" after a priest stated homosexuals engage in "a lifestyle that can never respond to the deepest longings of the human heart."
June 2001: Sold twenty cars at Christie's auction
In June 2001, Elton John sold twenty of his cars at Christie's auction house, including a 1993 Jaguar XJ220. The sale raised nearly £2 million.
2002: Stepped down as chairman of Watford Football Club
In 2002, Elton John stepped down as chairman of Watford Football Club because the club needed a full-time chairman, but continued as president.
2002: Party at the Palace Performance
In 2002, John performed at the Party at the Palace, marking another instance of his involvement in events celebrating the British royal family.
2002: CNN Interview with Larry King
In 2002, during a CNN interview with Larry King, John confirmed that he was aware of Diana, Princess of Wales's eating disorder, as he was also bulimic, revealing a personal connection to the late princess's struggles.
2003: Sold contents of Holland Park home
In 2003, Elton John sold the contents of his Holland Park home to modernize the decoration and display his contemporary art collection. The sale was expected to fetch £800,000 at Sotheby's.
2004: Opened "Elton's Closet"
Since 2004, Elton John has opened a shop called "Elton's Closet" every year, where he sells his secondhand clothes.
December 2005: Civil partnership with David Furnish
On 21 December 2005, Elton John and David Furnish were among the first couples to form a civil partnership in the United Kingdom, which was held at the Windsor Guildhall.
2005: Held concert at Watford's stadium
In 2005, Elton John held a concert at Watford's home stadium, Vicarage Road, and donated the proceeds to the club.
2006: Political views and declining support for Labour
In 2006, Elton John stated that he considered himself a Labour man and liked Tony Blair, but planned to withdraw his support from the Labour Party, feeling they had lost touch after being in power for too long.
2006: Statements on religion in The Observer interview
In a 2006 interview with The Observer, Elton John stated that he would "ban religion completely, even though there are some wonderful things about it" and that "religion has always tried to turn hatred toward gay people".
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.
June 2007: Ninth Annual White Tie & Tiara Ball
On June 28, 2007, John hosted the ninth annual White Tie & Tiara Ball, featuring a truffle soufflé menu, surf and turf, and a knickerbocker glory ice cream, raising £3.5 million for his AIDS charity with auctions and performances.
2008: Called Obama's victory "incredibly moving"
After the senator Barack Obama won the 2008 United States presidential election, Elton John called Obama's victory "incredibly moving." He had previously criticized George W. Bush's presidency.
2008: Preference for civil partnerships over marriage
In 2008, Elton John said he preferred civil partnerships to marriage for gay people.
April 2009: Wealth estimated at £175 million
In April 2009, the Sunday Times Rich List estimated Elton John's wealth at £175 million (US$265 million) and ranked him the 322nd wealthiest person in Britain.
2009: Refusal to adopt Ukrainian boy
In 2009, Ukrainian officials refused Elton John's wish to adopt an HIV-positive boy from a Ukrainian orphanage, citing his age and the legal restrictions on adoption by unmarried couples, as same-sex marriages were not legally recognised by Ukraine at the time.
2009: Described as a floating voter
In 2009, despite being called "one of the Labour Party's most stalwart supporters", The Daily Telegraph described Elton John as a "floating voter".
December 2010: Birth of Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John
On 25 December 2010, Elton John and David Furnish's elder son, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, was born via surrogacy in California.
2010: Held another concert at Watford's stadium
In 2010, Elton John held another concert at Watford's home stadium, Vicarage Road, and donated proceeds to the club.
2010: Controversy over remarks about Jesus
In 2010, some Christian groups in the US criticised Elton John after he described Jesus as a "compassionate, super-intelligent gay man who understood human problems".
2011: White Tie & Tiara Ball
In 2011, the White Tie & Tiara Ball hosted by John included guests such as Sarah Ferguson, Elizabeth Hurley, and George Michael, raising £5 million for John's foundation.
2012: Support for same-sex marriage
By 2012, Elton John had changed his position and become a supporter of same-sex marriage in the United Kingdom.
2012: Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert
In 2012, John performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace, further solidifying his connection with the British monarchy and his presence at significant national events.
January 2013: Birth of Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John
On 11 January 2013, Elton John and David Furnish's younger son, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, was born via the same surrogate.
January 2014: Putin spoke of John to show lack of gay discrimination
In a January 2014 interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of Elton John to attempt to show that there was no discrimination against gays in Russia, calling him "an extraordinary person" loved by millions.
March 2014: Legalization of same-sex marriage in England and Wales
In March 2014, same-sex marriage became legal in England and Wales.
December 2014: Marriage to David Furnish
On 21 December 2014, Elton John and David Furnish married in Windsor, Berkshire, on the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership.
December 2014: Appeared at Watford's Vicarage Road
On December 13, 2014, Elton John appeared at Watford's Vicarage Road with his husband and sons for the opening of the "Sir Elton John stand," calling it "one of the greatest days of my life".
2014: Belief that Jesus would have supported same-sex marriage
In 2014, Elton John said Jesus would have been in favour of same-sex marriage.
May 2015: Met Barack Obama at the White House
In May 2015, Elton John met Barack Obama in the White House.
September 2015: Putin called and invited John to meet
On September 24, 2015, it was reported that Vladimir Putin called Elton John and invited him to meet in the future to discuss LGBT rights in Russia.
2016: Supported Hillary Clinton's campaign
During the 2016 US presidential election, Elton John supported Hillary Clinton's campaign and performed at her fundraiser concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City, praising her as "the only choice" America had.
2016: Announced intention to vote Remain in EU referendum
In 2016, Elton John announced his intention to vote Remain during the UK's European Union referendum on Instagram, sharing an image with the words "build bridges not walls".
January 2017: Declined invitation to Trump's inauguration
In January 2017, Elton John declined an invitation to attend Donald Trump's inauguration as US president, stating that as a British National, he didn't feel it was appropriate, but wished Trump success with his presidency.
April 2017: Hospital Discharge After Bacterial Infection
On 22 April 2017, John was discharged from hospital after two nights of intensive care for contracting "a harmful and unusual" bacterial infection during his return flight home from a South American tour in Santiago, Chile.
May 2017: Cancellation of Shows
In April and May 2017, John was forced to cancel all his shows scheduled due to a bacterial infection contracted during his return flight home from a South American tour in Santiago, Chile.
September 2017: Trump referenced "Rocket Man" at the United Nations
In September 2017, Donald Trump referenced Elton John's song "Rocket Man" during his first address to the United Nations, referring to Kim Jong Un as "Little Rocket Man".
2017: Biden wrote about singing "Crocodile Rock" to his son
In 2017, Joe Biden wrote in his book "Promise Me, Dad" that he sang "Crocodile Rock" to his son Beau when he was a child, and again when he was dying of cancer.
![[Joe Biden] Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose - Hardcover](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41qecnch4uL._SL500_.jpg "[Joe Biden] Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose - Hardcover")
January 2018: Announced retirement from touring
On 24 January 2018, Elton John announced that he was retiring from touring and would embark on a three-year farewell tour, citing spending time with his family as the reason.
May 2018: Visited Armenia
In May 2018, Elton John visited Armenia, expressing being overwhelmed by the kindness and humanity shown to him by the Armenian people.
May 2019: Release of Rocketman
In May 2019, Paramount Pictures released Rocketman, a biographical film about Elton John's life from his childhood to the 1980s, directed by Dexter Fletcher and starring Taron Egerton as Elton John.
July 2019: Sober Anniversary
In July 2019, John shared in an Instagram post that he had been sober for 29 years, marking a significant milestone in his journey to overcome addiction.
October 2019: Release of autobiography "Me"
In October 2019, Elton John released his autobiography, "Me". The audiobook of "Me" was narrated by Taron Egerton, with Elton John reading the prologue and epilogue.
2019: Expressed shame over Brexit vote
In 2019, Elton John said that the Brexit vote and the way it had been handled had made him ashamed.
2019: Renate Blauel claims Elton John's autobiography broke the terms of their divorce agreement
In 2019, Renate Blauel sued Elton John for writing about their relationship in his 2019 Me: Elton John Official Autobiography, which she claimed broke the terms of their divorce agreement.
2019: Death threats following statements on religion
In his 2019 autobiography, Me, Elton John stated that he had received many death threats as a result of his statements. Neal Horsley was arrested for making terrorist threats, after posting a YouTube video stating: "We're here today to remind Elton John that he has to die".
2019: Wealth estimated at £320 million
In the 2019 Sunday Times Rich List, Elton John was estimated to have a fortune of £320 million, making him one of the 10 wealthiest people in the British music industry.
February 2020: Walking Pneumonia Diagnosis and Concert Interruption
In February 2020, John's first show at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland was cut short due to a diagnosis of walking pneumonia, causing him to lose his voice during the performance.
October 2020: Called attention to Nagorno-Karabakh conflict
In October 2020, Elton John called attention to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, condemning the aggression and targeting of civilians.
2020: Financial assistance to Linda Woodrow
In 2020, Elton John helped pay for his former fiancee Linda Woodrow's medical fees upon her request, despite having lost contact with her 50 years previously.
2020: Recalled the making of The One album
In 2020, Elton John recalled that in 1992, during the making of The One album, being 100% sober was tough, but he managed to create a good song, which was the title of the record.
2020: Settlement of lawsuit with Renate Blauel
In 2020, the lawsuit between Renate Blauel and Elton John was settled after she sued him for writing about their relationship in his 2019 autobiography.
October 2021: Named in the Pandora Papers
In October 2021, Elton John was named in the Pandora Papers, which alleged a secret financial deal involving tax havens to avoid paying taxes.
October 2021: Hip Surgery
In October 2021, John required hip surgery after "falling awkwardly on a hard surface", which highlights a health challenge he faced.
2021: Requests to meet with Boris Johnson ignored
In 2021, Elton John said that his requests to meet with Boris Johnson regarding Brexit and touring visas for musicians were ignored.
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 digitally remastered version of Diamonds
In March 2022, Elton John released a digitally remastered version of his Diamonds compilation album on streaming platforms to celebrate his 75th birthday.
June 2022: Platinum Party at the Palace Performance
In June 2022, John's pre-recorded performance of "Your Song" at Windsor Castle was projected onto Buckingham Palace for the Platinum Party at the Palace, celebrating the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
September 2022: Tribute to Elizabeth II
Following the death of Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, John paid tribute to her during a show, acknowledging her leadership and grace during significant moments in the country's history.
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.
December 2022: Left Twitter due to policy changes
On December 9, 2022, Elton John left Twitter due to changes in its rules made by Elon Musk, stating his concern about the spread of misinformation. Musk responded, inviting him back and questioning which misinformation he was concerned about.
2022: Received the National Humanities Medal
In 2022, after performing at the White House, US President Joe Biden surprised Elton John by presenting him with the National Humanities Medal.
June 2023: Commented on Phillip Schofield's affair
On June 20, 2023, Elton John commented that the reaction to Phillip Schofield's secret affair with a younger colleague was "totally homophobic."
July 2023: Final concert of the farewell tour
On 8 July 2023, Elton John performed the final concert of his farewell tour in Stockholm at the Tele2 Arena. At the time, the tour was the highest-grossing tour ever.
July 2023: Gave evidence at Kevin Spacey's trial
On July 17, 2023, Elton John gave evidence as a defense witness at Kevin Spacey's sexual assault trial.
2023: Addressed politicians on eradicating AIDS
In 2023, Elton John addressed a cross-party gathering of politicians at Westminster, stating that the winner of the next general election could help to eradicate AIDS worldwide by the end of the decade.
December 2024: Public opposition to cannabis legalisation
In December 2024, Elton John made public his opposition to cannabis legalisation, describing its legalisation in Canada and parts of the United States as "one of the greatest mistakes of our time."
December 2024: New waxwork revealed at Madame Tussauds
In December 2024, Madame Tussauds revealed a new wax work of Elton John, designed as their most ambitious figure ever, featuring John in his 1970s heyday suspended mid-air over his rhinestone piano in his signature handstand move.
December 2024: Loss of Eyesight
On December 1, 2024, John revealed that he had lost his eyesight, following a severe eye infection contracted in July that left him blind in his right eye and with limited vision in his left.
2024: Publicly supported Labour at general election
In 2024, Elton John returned to publicly supporting the Labour Party at the general election, endorsing its leader, Keir Starmer, to become prime minister.
2024: Assisted Biden at Stonewall National Monument opening
In 2024, during the US presidential election, Elton John assisted Joe Biden at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City, the first LGBTQ center in the National Park Service's network.
2025: Expressed betrayal over copyright laws
In 2025, Elton John said he felt "incredibly betrayed" by the Labour government over plans to exempt technology firms from copyright laws, criticizing Keir Starmer and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.
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