Legendary singer-songwriter Elton John has revealed that his children, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, have expressed concerns about his mortality as he grows older. The 77-year-old music icon, who shares his sons with his husband David Furnish, opened up about these intimate family moments in his new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) on September 6.
In the documentary, John candidly discusses the reality of aging and how it affects his children. “They think about my mortality. They worry about my mortality,” he says, acknowledging the fears that Zachary and Elijah hold about the future. While his husband David Furnish, 61, remains a source of stability for the family, it is John’s advancing age that concerns his sons most.
“They love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever,” John reflects. “I would love to be around forever.” However, the “Rocket Man” singer is realistic about the passing of time and understands that he may not witness certain milestones in his children’s lives. “I want to see them have children and get married. I don’t think I’m going to be around for that. Who knows? You never know,” John admits, adding that he treasures the time they have together now. “Time together is so wonderful and so precious.”
The documentary, co-directed by R.J. Cutler and Furnish, offers an intimate look into John’s life, combining footage from his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour with personal moments shared with his family. The project, which was first announced in 2022, is a collaboration with Disney+ and Rocket Pictures. Following its TIFF premiere, Elton John: Never Too Late will be available to stream on Disney+ starting December 13.
The Toronto International Film Festival runs from September 5 to 15, showcasing a variety of highly anticipated films from around the world.