Amid his many musical honors and long-standing reputation as an LGBTQ+ advocate, Sir Elton John has opened up about what he truly wants his legacy to be, and it is not centered on music.
The “Rocket Man” singer also urged queer people to keep standing against political hostility, lamenting the setbacks the community has faced in recent years.
Elsewhere, John recently shared that he has finished another album at 79, and explained why the project feels different from anything he has made before.
Sir Elton John has built a career filled with global hits, sold-out shows, major honors, and film work, including “The Lion King.” But as he reflects on his legacy and mortality, the music icon says he does not want his greatest mark to be his entertainment career.
In a new interview with Out, John and his husband, David Furnish, discussed legacy and the importance of family.
Asked how he wants to be remembered, John said, “If my children are happy and know I gave everything I had to support and love them, that is enough for me.”
He added that while he has been honored for his music and tries to support rising artists, “being a father and building a family with David” will always matter most.
John Launches Impact Awards
John and Furnish are also marking Pride Month with a new initiative celebrating LGBTQ+ figures who have made a visible impact.
The couple partnered with iHeartMedia and Procter & Gamble for the Elton John Impact Awards, which will recognize names including Jonathan Bailey, Laverne Cox, Orville Peck, and Chappell Roan.
Explaining the reason behind the awards, John said he has watched people get punished simply for wanting to live openly. He said the initiative is meant to honor those who have remained courageous while also making clear that the work is not over.
“The awards exist because that courage deserves to be named and celebrated, not just assumed,” he said.
Elton John Speaks Out Against Political Hostility
Elsewhere in the interview, John addressed the political hostility facing the LGBTQ+ community in recent years.
The “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” singer urged queer people to keep standing together and speaking up, noting that visibility has long been central to the community’s survival.
“The hostility is real, and it is growing,” he said. “We are seeing rights rolled back, funding cuts, and communities that were already vulnerable being made more so. This is not a moment for silence or looking away.”
He added that the Elton John Impact Awards are one way of declaring that the community is “here,” “proud,” and “not going away.”
John Says Vision Loss Shifted His Songwriting
Although John has stopped touring, he has not stopped creating music.
While receiving the prestigious Glenn Gould Prize in Toronto last month, the “Tiny Dancer” singer revealed that he had completed a new album. He also explained how losing vision in his right eye forced him to rethink his songwriting process.
“I’ve had eye trouble recently, and I always make records by looking at lyrics and writing to lyrics, and so I’m kind of f-cked at the moment,” he said, per fan-captured footage.
John explained that the setback pushed him into a new method, which involves writing melodies first and letting the lyrics come afterward.
“I’ve never done that. And I’ve just done it,” he said.
Elton John Says His New Album Feels ‘Different’
John said the new album feels unlike anything else he has made, especially because of its joyful tone.
“It’s so happy,” he said. “I’m so thrilled with it because it’s given me another chance to make music.”
During a 2024 interview on “Good Morning America,” John revealed that he had lost vision in his right eye after getting an infection while spending the summer in France.
“It kind of floored me, and I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything,” he said at the time.
