Elton John upholding larger-than-life image despite struggles with walking and near blindness in one eye

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Elton John is reportedly grappling with significant health issues, leading him to take extreme measures to conceal his condition from fans.

Sources close to the legendary singer revealed that, at 77, John can barely walk but is determined to uphold his larger-than-life persona.

Health struggles mount as Elton John fights to maintain his public image

In a recent appearance at the world premiere of his documentary, 'Elton John: Never Too Late', he surprised fans by arriving in a custom purple golf cart, a move insiders claim was intended to disguise his reliance on a wheelchair.

“Elton refuses to be seen as weak,” a source shared. “He’s so determined to maintain his image, but the truth is he can hardly move without help.”

The insider went on to say, "He doesn't know where he's going half the time. That’s why the golf cart makes sense — it's a way to hide the truth from the cameras."

"Elton's focus now is all about cementing his legacy. He wants to control the narrative of his life as an artist, husband and father — before someone else does it for him!"

This latest health concern is just one in a series of struggles the rocker has faced in recent years. Following his retirement from touring in 2023, John has battled pneumonia, chronic hip and knee issues, prostate cancer, and type 2 diabetes.

He also had a pacemaker installed after heart complications in 1999.

Most recently, John announced that a severe eye infection left him nearly blind in one eye, stating on Instagram, “I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.”

“Elton’s focus now is all about controlling the narrative of his life as an artist, husband, and father,” the insider revealed.

Elton John opens up about mortality and family dynamics 

In his new Disney Plus documentary, John opened up about his mortality, admitting that his sons, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, worry about his health. His husband, David Furnish, 61, who co-directed the documentary,  expressed his desire for John to remain healthy, reflecting on their 30 years together and the dreams they have finally realized.

According to the sources, Furnish said, "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."

"Look, I want him to be around forever. And both of us, in the 30 years we've been together, we're only just at this moment that we've only ever dreamed of. Elton was always doing 90, 100 shows a year, working constantly… And then we had our sons, and then that whole reality takes place.”