Elton John has opened up about the loss that changed his life and helped him get sober. During a 2022 performance at the White House, he honored Jeanne White-Ginder, the mother of Ryan White, a young man who died of AIDS in the 1990s. Elton says meeting Ryan and his family inspired him to become an AIDS activist and led him to get sober. Josh Homme also revealed a hilarious Elton John Dig recently as well.
In his new book, Farewell Yellow Brick Road, Elton remembers visiting Ryan in the hospital before he passed away. He spoke about the strength and forgiveness he saw from Ryan’s family. After Ryan died, Elton went to rehab and got sober, believing that Ryan’s story “saved his life.”
At the White House, after singing “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” Elton shared how Ryan’s family motivated him to get involved in AIDS activism. After the show, President Joe Biden surprised Elton by giving him the National Humanities Medal for his work with the Elton John AIDS Foundation.
Elton has always been open about his past struggles with addiction. He remembers staying up for days and having chest pains, almost dying because of his drug and alcohol use. His turning point came when he admitted he needed help, which changed his life.
Elton’s AIDS foundation, started in 1992, helps with HIV prevention and care. It has raised over $565 million to help those with HIV. Elton considers this work one of his proudest achievements.
His new book also shares surprising stories from his life, including dealing with painful vocal cysts during a tour in Australia and surviving an onstage incident where a metal pipe was thrown at his face. Despite all the challenges, Elton continues to inspire through his music and activism.
