Elton John celebrates 35 years of sobriety as fans laud milestone: 'Grateful for all the love'
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Elton John is celebrating 35 years of sobriety.
The 78-year-old music icon took to Instagram on Tuesday, July 29, to share the milestone with fans, marking the occasion surrounded by loved ones.
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Elton John marks milestone in sobriety
The singer posted a photo showing a table filled with flowers and handmade cards from his sons, Elijah, 12, and Zachary, 14, whom he shares with husband David Furnish, 62. Elton John's Instagram post read, “Grateful for all the love on my sobriety birthday 🙏🏻❤️."
One card read, “Happy 35th birthday. We are so proud of you!” while another framed drawing featured colorful balloons and hearts with the words “So proud of you!”
Last year, as he celebrated his sobriety journey, Elton posted a photo of his recovery chip, inscribed with the words “Unity, Service, and Recovery.” He told fans, “34 years clean and sober. My life has never been better.”
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Elton John reflects on addiction, near-collapse, and the moment that changed everything
Elton John, whose struggles with drugs and alcohol have been widely known and portrayed in the 2019 biopic 'Rocketman,' previously opened up about the toll addiction took on his life.
“The life I was leading — flying on [his legendary private plane] the Starship, living in beautiful houses, buying things left, right and center — it was not a normal life, not the sort of life I came from anyway,” he told Variety in 2019. “There were times I was having chest pains or staying up for three days at a time,” he added.
“I used to have spasms and be found on the floor and they’d put me back to bed and half an hour later I’d be doing the same. It’s crazy,” John said.
It was the death of his close friend, Ryan White, a young AIDS victim, in 1990 that pushed him to seek help.
On July 29 that year, he admitted himself into Chicago’s Parkside Lutheran Hospital. “My sobriety has brought me everything that I could possibly wish for,” John shared.
Fans and celebrities, including Billie Jean King, celebrate Elton John’s sobriety journey online
Supportive messages from fellow stars and fans soon followed. Tennis legend Billie Jean King commented on his Instagram post, “So proud of you, always.”
“Congratulations Elton you’ve [done] a wonderful job of staying clean and sober,” wrote one fan.
“Well done, Sir Elton!!! It’s not an easy path. I am very proud of you, and very grateful too for having enjoyed your music during all my adolescence,” added another.
Other users echoed similar sentiments, writing, “Awesome job you have done. Congratulations. Be proud,” and “thats beautiful ❤️😢.” Another chimed in, “An incredible one too ❤️.”
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