At a Glance
- Elton John says sons Zachary, 15, and Elijah, 13, worry he won’t live long enough to see them marry or have children
- The singer lost vision in one eye after a 2024 infection and now struggles to watch them play sports
- Both boys were born via the same surrogate, joining the family in 2010 and 2013
- Why it matters: The rare glimpse into the family’s private life shows how John is racing time to create lasting memories
Elton John has opened up about how his teenage sons fear losing him, revealing that Zachary, 15, and Elijah, 13, have voiced concern over his mortality. The five-time Grammy winner, who shares the boys with husband David Furnish, says the conversation has intensified since a recent infection left him with limited vision in one eye.
In his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2024, the singer recalled the boys asking him to “be around forever.” John told the camera he would love to oblige but doubts he will live to see them marry or become fathers himself. The disclosure frames how the 77-year-old legend now measures time in milestones rather than years.
A Family Built Through Surrogacy
John and Furnish welcomed Zachary Jackson Levon on December 25, 2010, delivered in California by the same surrogate who would later carry their second son. The couple released a brief statement that Christmas morning: “We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment. Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents.”
Elijah Joseph Daniel arrived on January 11, 2013, also in Los Angeles and through the same surrogate. Announcing the birth, the couple said, “Both of us have longed to have children, but the reality that we now have two sons is almost unbelievable. The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way.”
The pair have kept scrapbooks for each boy, filling them with ultrasound images, email exchanges with the surrogate and photos from the pregnancies. Furnish told News Of Losangeles the keepsakes are meant to show the boys “the spirit and love that was at the heart of the process.”
Life Lessons And Shared Passions
John has never hidden how fatherhood altered his priorities. In a 2011 interview he called it “the best decision we’ve made,” adding, “You can’t put into words how much love we have for this little boy.”
Soccer quickly became a shared language. John served as chair of Watford FC from 1976 to 2002 and still holds season tickets. Paparazzi shots regularly capture him and Zachary in the stands, arms raised after a goal. In July 2021 John posted a family photo of all three males cheering England’s Euro 2020 run from home, each draped in team colors.
Both boys now play youth rugby and soccer, games John can no longer watch clearly. After the 2024 infection he told The Times, “I can’t read. I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time, because I’m used to soaking it all up.”
Looking Ahead While Counting Time
John has said he wants to use “the best of my time while I’m around,” a mindset that shapes everything from concert dates to vacation plans. In August 2021 the family wore matching custom Versace robes embroidered with their first names while on holiday in Nice, France; the Instagram post garnered more than half a million likes and reinforced the image of a tight-knit household.
On his 75th birthday the singer published a letter in TIME addressed to Zachary and Elijah. He wrote, “You two are the greatest gifts I have ever been given. You have filled my heart with love and my life with purpose and meaning in ways I didn’t think were possible.”
Whether either boy will pursue music remains an open question. John told E! News the children are “still so young, so not entirely sure,” but pledged he and Furnish will back whatever dreams they chase. “Whatever their dreams and ambitions are, my husband David and I will fully support them,” he said.
For now, John focuses on presence over prediction. When Elijah turned 11, Furnish posted a cake photo on Instagram captioned, “Can’t believe you’re 11! You fill our hearts with so much love and laughter.” The sentiment echoes John’s own summary on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016: “There’s no words to describe how much we love these boys. They’re just amazing.”
