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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Entertainment
Nuray Bulbul

Is Elton John retiring from music? Singer’s plans after Glastonbury gig

Elton John performed the final concert at Glastonbury Festival on Sunday, bringing an end to the yearly extravaganza with what might be his last show in the United Kingdom.

The singer thanked his audience for their “52 years of amazing love and loyalty” during his headliner performance.

“It’s been an incredible journey and I’ve had the best, best time. I will never forget you — you are in my head, my heart and my soul,” he added.

It was an amazing night for John, as he was joined on the Glastonbury stage by several surprise guests, including the London Community Gospel Choir, Jacob Lusk of the soul-pop group Gabriels, and Stephen Sanchez.

John later shared the stage with Brandon Flowers of The Killers for “Tiny Dancer” and with Rina Sawayama for “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart”. He rounded off the performance with "Rocket Man”.

With a global farewell tour, the 76-year-old pop singer is wrapping off a sparkling stage career. He performed his final shows in the United States in May and will hit the stage for the final gig of his tour in Stockholm next month.

Is Elton John retiring?

John previously confirmed he would “not be going on tour again” once his current one ends. The singer said he was ready for a "little bit of freedom" because of the emotional toll that touring has taken on his personal life.

"Touring is exhausting for me now, and it takes me away from my family and my children," he said, alluding to his boyfriend David Furnish and their two boys Zachary, 12, and Elijah, 10.

What have others said?

It seems like fans can still expect new music and performances from the singer.

David Furnish, John's husband, previously told Sky News that when the Farewell tour concludes next month, John would continue to make music and begin production on a new studio album later this year.

A performance is already set for later this year when he will perform at the 2023 Emmy Promotion evening in Los Angeles in support of the Disney+ programme Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodger Stadium.

When does his Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour end?

The Goodbye Yellow Brick Road tour ends next month in Stockholm on July 8.

The Farewell tour began in 2018 and in January of this year, it became the first-ever tour to surpass the $800million (£649.1million) mark.

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