Elton John reveals his addictions nearly caused him to lose everything, calling sobriety one of his “greatest achievements.” The 79-year-old singer, who earned EGOT status in January 2024, says he has been sober for 36 years.
Elton John reflects on 36 years of sobriety after admitting addiction nearly cost him everything
Speaking with HELLO! magazine, the legendary singer, who has sold more than 300 million records worldwide, said, “I’ve been sober for 36 years, and my life has never been better.” He narrated, “I nearly lost everything through my addictions, and becoming sober has been one of my greatest achievements. I’ve been so lucky to have the life I’ve had, and it keeps getting better.”
The singer launched Elton John Zero Blanc de Blancs this year. It is a zero-alcohol sparkling wine that he created with his husband, David Furnish, whom he married in 2014. Elton says he enjoys introducing his friends to the new drink. “Seeing their reactions has been a joy after we put so much effort into getting it right.”
The singer, who is famous for timeless classics such as Rocket Man, has spoken candidly about his battle with addiction on several occasions. In a May 2019 interview with Variety, he said, “The life I was leading, flying on the Starship [his legendary private plane], 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. I lost complete touch with that. I vowed when I did change my life that that would never happen again.”
Elton John battled a severe addiction to drugs and alcohol from the late 1970s to the late 1980s. He reflected on the severe effects of his addiction, recalling times when he experienced chest pains and stayed awake for three days. He also suffered spasms that sometimes left him on the floor before others helped him back to bed. However, he said he would often experience the same episodes again just half an hour later. In 1990, he made the decision to get sober.
