Sir Elton John has shared that he has been unable to complete his new album due to ongoing vision problems following an eye infection he suffered in July. For the past four months, he has been unable to see out of his right eye, and his left eye’s vision is also significantly impaired. In an interview with Good Morning America, the singer explained that while he can manage tasks like interviews, he struggles with activities like recording music because he cannot read lyrics. He described the situation as difficult, stating that it left him unable to see, read, or watch anything, which has been a major challenge for him.
When asked about the progress of his new album, Sir Elton John admitted that he was uncertain about its status, saying, “It’s been a while since I’ve done anything,” and that he feels “kind of stuck at the moment.” He mentioned that he is currently receiving treatment for his eyesight and remains hopeful that it will improve.
In November 2023, during the Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, Sir Elton had shared that he had “just finished” recording a new album with his longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. He described the album as “absolutely wonderful” and full of “youth and vitality.”
Despite this, his recent interview with Good Morning America suggests that the album is not yet close to completion. His last studio album of new material was released in 2016.
Sir Elton John’s remarks come nearly three months after he revealed that a “severe” infection had left him with “only limited vision” in one eye. Despite his ongoing vision challenges, he has continued to make several public appearances.
He attended the premieres of his new documentary Never Too Late in both Toronto and London. In October, he joined Dua Lipa on stage at her concert at the Royal Albert Hall to perform their hit duet Cold Heart.
Earlier this month, Sir Elton was also present at the opening of his musical Tammy Faye on Broadway. Most recently, he appeared at the Royal Variety Performance in London, where he introduced a song from his upcoming stage show The Devil Wears Prada.