Entertainment Music Pop Music Elton John's Larger-Than-Life Career in Photos The beloved star has been creating timeliness music for over 50 years By Diane J. Cho Diane J. Cho Diane J. Cho is the former features editor of PEOPLE, covering news, features, human interest and more. She left PEOPLE in 2022 People Editorial Guidelines and Stephanie Sengwe Updated on March 25, 2025 08:00AM EDT Elton John. Photo: SSPL/Getty Sir Elton Hercules John (whose given name is Reginald Kenneth Dwight) was born on March 25, 1947, in Pinner, Middlesex, England. At 3 years old, John taught himself how to play piano by ear and by 11, he was awarded a scholarship at the Royal Academy of Music. The star has gone from child prodigy to a multi-platinum-selling artist whose incredible career has spanned more than 50 years. The Songwriters Hall of Fame (1992) and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1994) inductee has also supported people with AIDS through the Elton John AIDS Foundation since 1990. (Before learning more about John's life, see his rockstar throwbacks here.) 01 of 17 Elton John Goes on Tour Elton John. Chris Walter/WireImage The dynamic performer launched his first tour in 1970 and has clocked more than 4,000 performances across the globe ever since. John sprung into his signature jumps and kicks while playing the piano at his 1974 Christmas Show in Hammersmith, London. 02 of 17 John Lennon Crashes Elton John's N.Y.C. Show Elton John. Steve Morley/Redferns John Lennon made a surprise appearance at John's Madison Square Garden show in N.Y.C. in 1974. 03 of 17 Elton John on the Cher Show Elton John. Bettmann/Getty Bette Midler cozied up to John as they hit the set of the Cher show on CBS in 1975. 04 of 17 Elton John Performs at Dodger Stadium Elton John. Andre Csillag/Shutterstock The star wore a sequined, custom Los Angeles Dodgers uniform to his sold-out concert at Dodger Stadium in 1975. The famous concert was portrayed in John's 2019 biopic, Rocketman, which stars Taron Egerton. 05 of 17 Elton John Is Honored on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Elton John. Michael Ochs Archives/Getty At the height of his explosive fame, John received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on Oct. 23, 1975. in L.A. 06 of 17 Elton John Supports Billie Jean King Elton John. PL Gould/IMAGES/Getty He embraced close friend and tennis legend Billie Jean King at the Forest Hills Tennis Stadium in N.Y.C. in 1975. 07 of 17 Elton John and the McCartneys at the 1978 Capital Radio Music Awards Elton John. Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Paul McCartney and ex-wife Linda sit with John at the 1978 Capital Radio Music Awards in London, where John won best singer and best concert of 1977. 08 of 17 Elton John's Donald Duck Moment Elton John. Chris Morris/Shutterstock Playing for a crowd of more than 400,000 people in Central Park, John wore a Donald Duck costume as a form of self-expression. It's the outfit most people ask him about, he once told PEOPLE of his legendary look. "I still have it," he said. "It was impossible to sit in! A disaster but a landmark." The memorable moment took place in New York City in 1980, and was an example of John's uncompromising promise to always be himself. "I was stuck behind a piano," he said. "I wanted to express myself through my outfits." 09 of 17 Elton John Wins His First Oscar Elton John. Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images John and Tim Rice posed proudly with their Oscars during the 67th Annual Academy Awards. The duo won Best Original Song for "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King. 10 of 17 Elton John Sings at Princess Diana's Funeral Elton John. Anwar Hussein/Getty John sang "Candle in the Wind" at the funeral for his late friend Princess Diana at Westminster Abbey in 1997. The two became fast friends after meeting at Prince Andrew's 21st birthday party in 1981. 11 of 17 Elton John Attends Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Wedding Elton John. Samir Hussein/WireImage In the following years after Princess Diana's death, John remained close to her two sons Prince William and Prince Harry. The star and husband David Furnish attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding at Windsor Castle in 2018. John and Furnish got married in 2014 and share two sons, Zachary and Elijah. 12 of 17 Elton John Hangs with the Beckhams Elton John. Elton John Instagram John and Furnish went on holiday with Victoria and David Beckham in 2019. John and actress Elizabeth Hurley are godparents to two of the Beckhams' sons, Brooklyn and Romeo. 13 of 17 Elton John Is Honored at Windsor Castle Elton John. Dominic Lipinski/Getty The star was made a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for his outstanding achievements in music and charity at Windsor Castle in 2021. 14 of 17 Elton John Wins His Second Oscar for Rocketman Elton John. Michael Kovac/Getty Furnish and John posed with John's Oscar for Best Original Song "I'm Gonna Love Me Again" from Rocketman in 2020. John shared the award with songwriter Bernie Taupin. 15 of 17 Elton John Achieves EGOT Status Elton John. Kevin Mazur/Getty In 2024, the singer won an Emmy Award for outstanding live variety special for Elton John Live: Farewell from Dodger Stadium, adding him to the short list of celebrities to have earned an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony. 16 of 17 Elton John Opens Up About Limited Vision Sir Elton John during The BRIT Awards. JMEnternational for BRIT Awards/Getty On Sept. 3, 2024, Sir Elton John revealed he has limited vision in one of his eyes after dealing with a severe eye infection. “Over the summer, I’ve been dealing with a severe eye infection that has unfortunately left me with only limited vision in one eye,” he wrote 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.” In the same post, the five-time Grammy winner also shared his gratitude, writing, “I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks." “I have been quietly spending the summer recuperating at home, and am feeling positive about the progress I have made in my healing and recovery thus far,” he concluded. 17 of 17 Elton John Releases Collaborative Album with Brandi Carlile Elton John and Brandi Carlile. Rich Polk/GG2025/Penske Media via Getty Not one to rest on his laurels, Elton John will be releasing a collaborative album with Brandi Carlile on April 4. Though fans are anticipating the release, John admitted he wasn't exactly the easiest to work with throughout the process. "I wanted this album to be special, but you can’t guarantee when you go into the studio that something’s going to be special," he revealed. "Reality is I was exhausted, I had a lot of doubt, and I was a nightmare — angry, I was tired, I was irritable." However, things "started to flow" once he thought about the "other people involved" in the project. "We made an album that I think is spectacular for all the ages. My life has been taking me to this album the whole time," Carlile said. The pair will promote the album with a one-night-only concert at the London Palladium on March 26. Close