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 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.
1925: Stanley Dwight's Birth
In 1925, Stanley Dwight, Elton John's father, was born.
1945: Dwight Parents Marriage
In 1945, Elton John's parents, Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen Harris, married.
March 1947: Reginald Kenneth Dwight Born
In March 1947, Reginald Kenneth Dwight, later known as Elton John, was born in Pinner, Middlesex. He was the eldest child of Stanley Dwight and Sheila Eileen Harris.
March 1947: Elton John's Birth
In March 1947, Reginald Kenneth Dwight, who later became known as Elton John, was born. He would grow up to be a British singer, songwriter, and pianist.
1956: Discovery of Rock and Roll
In 1956, Elton John was immediately hooked on rock and roll when his mother brought home records by Elvis Presley and Bill Haley & His Comets.
1959: Cousin's FA Cup Final Goal and Injury
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.
1967: Collaboration with Bernie Taupin Begins
In 1967, Elton John began writing with Bernie Taupin after answering an advertisement in New Musical Express.
1968: Performance of "Skyline Pigeon" at Ryan White's Funeral
Elton John performed his 1968 ballad "Skyline Pigeon" at Ryan White's funeral in April 1990 as a tribute.
1970: First Gay Relationship with John Reid
In 1970, after his first US shows in Los Angeles, California, 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.
January 1972: Name Change to Elton Hercules John
On January 7, 1972, Reginald Kenneth Dwight legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John.
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.
1975: Cocaine Overdose and Bulimia
In 1975, the pressures of stardom led to a cocaine overdose and the development of bulimia.
1976: Watford Football Club Chairman
In 1976, Elton John became the chairman and director of Watford Football Club, a role he held until 1987.
1976: Coming out as Bisexual
In 1976, Elton John came out as bisexual in an interview with Rolling Stone.
November 1977: Retirement Announcement
In November 1977, Elton John announced his retirement from performing.
February 1984: Marriage to Renate Blauel
On February 14, 1984, Elton John married German recording engineer, Renate Blauel, in an extravagant wedding ceremony at St Mark's Church, Darling Point, Sydney, Australia.
1984: Cried at Cup Final
In 1984, Elton John cried at the Cup Final, saying "At the 1984 Cup Final, the song 'Abide with Me' was played and that's why I cried. The song evokes my memory of childhood."
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)".
1986: Release of "Don't Give Up"
In 1986, the Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel duet "Don't Give Up" was released, which Elton John later credited for helping him get sober.
1986: Involvement in Charity Fundraising Events
Since 1986, Elton John has been involved in charity fundraising events.
1987: End of First Watford Football Club Chairman Tenure
In 1987, Elton John ended his first tenure as chairman and director of Watford Football Club.
1987: Libel Case Against The Sun
In 1987, Elton John won a libel case against The Sun, which published false allegations that he had had sex with rent boys.
1988: Divorce from Renate Blauel
In 1988, Elton John and Renate Blauel divorced.
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.
April 1990: Support for Ryan White
In April 1990, Elton 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.
1990: Sobriety Achieved
In 1990, Elton John achieved sobriety after struggling with a severe addiction to drugs and alcohol from the late 1970s to the late 1980s.
1991: Becomes Fan of Atlanta Braves
In 1991, Elton John became a fan of the Atlanta Braves baseball team after moving to Atlanta, Georgia, where he maintains a part-time residence.
1991: Death of Freddie Mercury
In 1991, Elton John's friend Freddie Mercury died.
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: Declaration of Being Gay
In 1992, Elton John told Rolling Stone in another interview that he was "quite comfortable about being gay".
1993: Jaguar XJ220 Included in Auction
In 1993 a Jaguar XJ220 was included in a sale in June 2001 for £234,750.
1993: Beginning of Relationship with David Furnish
In 1993, Elton John began a relationship with David Furnish, a former advertising executive and now filmmaker originally from Toronto, Canada.
1993: Annual Academy Award Party
In 1993, Elton John began hosting his annual Academy Award Party to raise money for his AIDS charity.
January 1996: Property Spending
In January 1996, Elton John spent more than £9.6 million on property.
January 1997: 50th Birthday Party and Performance with Queen
In January 1997, Elton John held a 50th birthday party and 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: 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: Flower Spending
In September 1997, Elton John spent £293,000 on flowers.
1997: Funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales
In 1997, Elton John performed at the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales at Westminster Abbey.
1997: Second Watford Football Club Chairman Tenure
In 1997, Elton John returned as the chairman and director of Watford Football Club.
February 1998: Knighthood by Queen Elizabeth II
On February 24, 1998, Elton John was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II for services to music and charity.
1998: Met Tony Blair at the Brit Awards
In 1998, Elton John met Tony Blair at the Brit Awards, where Blair awarded him the Freddie Mercury Award for his charitable work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
1998: Knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II
In 1998, Queen Elizabeth II knighted Elton John for his services to music and charity.
2000: Spending Admission
In 2000, Elton John admitted to spending £30 million in just under two years, averaging £1.5 million a month.
2000: Criticism of the Roman Catholic Church
In 2000, Elton John characterized 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."
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.
June 2001: Car Auction at Christie's
In June 2001, Elton John sold twenty of his cars at Christie's auction house, raising nearly £2 million. The sale included a 1993 Jaguar XJ220.
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: End of Second Watford Football Club Chairman Tenure
In 2002, Elton John ended his second tenure as chairman and director of Watford Football Club.
2002: Party at the Palace Performance
In 2002, Elton John performed at the Party at the Palace.
2002: CNN Interview about Bulimia
In 2002, during a CNN interview with Larry King, Elton John confirmed that he and Diana, Princess of Wales both suffered from bulimia.
2003: Sale of Holland Park Home Contents
In 2003, Elton John sold the contents of his Holland Park home, expected to fetch £800,000 at Sotheby's, to modernize the decoration and display his contemporary art collection.
2003: Inspiration from Love Actually
In 2003, the movie Love Actually came out. It later inspired the music video for "Merry Christmas", the duet single from Elton John and Ed Sheeran released for charity.
2004: Opening of "Elton's Closet"
Since 2004, Elton John has opened a shop called "Elton's Closet", where he sells his secondhand clothes.
December 2005: Civil Partnership with David Furnish
On December 21, 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: Civil Partnership with David Furnish
In 2005, Elton John entered a civil partnership with his long-term partner, Canadian filmmaker David Furnish.
2005: Hurricanes Affected Harrah's Entertainment Inc. Workers
In 2005, the Hurricanes affected Harrah's Entertainment Inc. workers.
2006: Political Views and Labour Party Support
In 2006, Elton John stated he would be a Labour man and liked Tony Blair a lot. He also said he would definitely be a Democrat in America.
2006: Interview with The Observer
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 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.
2008: Praised Barack Obama's Victory
After Senator Barack Obama won the 2008 United States presidential election, Elton John called Obama's victory "incredibly moving."
2008: Preference for Civil Partnerships
In 2008, Elton John stated he preferred civil partnerships to marriage for gay people.
2009: "Floating Voter" Description
In 2009, The Daily Telegraph described Elton John as a "floating voter" despite him being called "one of the Labour Party's most stalwart supporters".
December 2010: Birth of Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John
On December 25, 2010, Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, Elton John and David Furnish's elder son, was born via surrogacy in California.
2010: Criticism from Christian Groups
In 2010, some Christian groups in the US criticized 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 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.
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, Elton John performed at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace.
January 2013: Birth of Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John
On January 11, 2013, Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, Elton John and David Furnish's younger son, was born via the same surrogate.
January 2014: Putin's Comments on Elton John
In a January 2014 interview, Russian President Vladimir Putin spoke of Elton John to show that there was no discrimination against gays in Russia, calling him an extraordinary person.
March 2014: Legalization of Same-Sex Marriage in the UK
In March 2014, same-sex marriage became legal in the United Kingdom.
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".
December 2014: Marriage to David Furnish
On December 21, 2014, Elton John and David Furnish married in Windsor, Berkshire, on the ninth anniversary of their civil partnership.
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.
2014: Marriage to David Furnish
In 2014, Elton John married David Furnish after same-sex marriage was legalized in England and Wales.
2014: Jesus' stance on same-sex marriage
In 2014, Elton John said Jesus would have been in favor of same-sex marriage.
2014: Interview about Sobriety
In a 2014 interview, Elton John attributed his sobriety to the Kate Bush and Peter Gabriel duet "Don't Give Up" from 1986.
May 2015: Met President Obama at the White House
In May 2015, Elton John met President Barack Obama in the White House.
September 2015: Putin's Call and Invitation to Meet
On 24 September 2015, the Associated Press reported that Vladimir Putin called Elton John and invited him to meet in the future to discuss LGBT rights in Russia.
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.
2016: Supported Hillary Clinton's Campaign
During the 2016 presidential election, Elton John supported Hillary Clinton's campaign, performing at Clinton's fundraiser concert at Radio City Music Hall in New York City.
2016: Support for Remaining in EU
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 Trump Inauguration Invitation
In January 2017, Elton John declined an invitation to attend Donald Trump's inauguration, citing his British nationality.
April 2017: Hospital Discharge after Bacterial Infection
In April 2017, Elton John was discharged from hospital after two nights of intensive care for contracting a bacterial infection during his return flight home from a South American tour in Santiago, Chile.
September 2017: Trump's Reference to "Rocket Man"
In September 2017, Donald Trump referred to North Korean Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un as "Little Rocket Man" during his first address to the United Nations.
November 2017: 50-year partnership
In November 2017, Elton John commented on his 50-year partnership with Bernie Taupin.
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.
May 2018: Visit to Armenia
In May 2018, Elton John visited Armenia and was overwhelmed with the kindness and humanity shown to him by the Armenian people.
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.
July 2019: Sober for 29 Years
In July 2019, Elton John stated in an Instagram post that he had been sober for 29 years.
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: 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.
2019: Ashamed of Brexit Handling
In 2019, Elton John said the Brexit vote and the way it had been handled had made him ashamed.
2019: Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
In 2019, President Emmanuel Macron appointed Elton John a chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Also in 2019, John was featured on a series of UK postage stamps issued by the Royal Mail.
2019: Rocketman Biopic Release
In 2019, the biopic "Rocketman", dramatizing Elton John's life and career, was released.
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: Financial Assistance to Linda Woodrow
In 2020, Elton John helped pay for his former fiancee, Linda Woodrow's, medical fees upon her request. They had lost contact 50 years previously.
2020: Elton John Recalls Sober Album Recording
In 2020, Elton John reflected on recording his 1992 album "The One" sober, noting it was a difficult but ultimately successful experience.
October 2021: Hip Surgery
In October 2021, Elton John required hip surgery after falling awkwardly on a hard surface.
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.
2021: Ignored Requests to Meet Boris Johnson
In 2021, Elton John said that his requests to meet with Boris Johnson regarding Brexit and touring visas for musicians were ignored.
March 2022: Performance at Shane Warne's Memorial Service
In March 2022, Elton John performed "Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me" at the memorial service for Australian cricketer Shane Warne.
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.
June 2022: Platinum Party at the Palace Projection
On 4 June 2022, Elton John was projected on to the facade of Buckingham Palace playing "Your Song" (pre-recorded at Windsor Castle) at the Platinum Party at the Palace to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.
September 2022: Tribute to Elizabeth II
After the death of Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Elton John paid tribute to her during a show, praising her leadership.
December 2022: Left Twitter
On 9 December 2022, Elton John left Twitter, following changes to its rules made by new owner Elon Musk, citing concerns about misinformation.
2022: Indianapolis Concert
At a 2022 concert in Indianapolis, Elton John credited the family of Ryan White for helping him get sober.
2022: Awarded National Humanities Medal
In 2022, after Elton John performed at the White House, President Joe Biden surprised him by presenting him with the National Humanities Medal.
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.
July 2023: Defense Witness at Kevin Spacey Trial
On 17 July 2023, Elton John gave evidence as a defense witness at Kevin Spacey's sexual assault trial.
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.
December 2024: Opposition to Marijuana Legalization
In December 2024, Elton John made public his opposition to marijuana legalization, describing it as one of the greatest mistakes of our time, noting his own past drug use.
December 2024: New Wax Work at Madame Tussauds
In December 2024, Madame Tussauds revealed a new wax work of Elton John, featuring him in his 1970s heyday, suspended mid-air over his rhinestone piano in his signature handstand move.
December 2024: Revealed Loss of Eyesight
On December 1, 2024, Elton John revealed that he had lost his eyesight due to a severe eye infection contracted in July, leaving him blind in his right eye and with limited vision in his left.
2024: Assisted Biden at Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center Opening
During the 2024 United States presidential election, Elton John assisted Joe Biden at the opening of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York.
2024: Endorsement of Keir Starmer
In 2024, Elton John returned to publicly supporting the Labour Party at the general election, endorsing the party's leader Keir Starmer to become prime minister.
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