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With singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, Elton John had the crowd hanging on his every word as he prepared to present the award for Best Original Score – Motion Picture.
Elton John proved his sense of humour was as sharp as ever, even when facing personal challenges. (Photo Credits: Instagram)
Elton John knows how to keep things light, even when addressing serious concerns. The legendary musician, known for his larger-than-life personality and enduring hits, used his wit and charm to address recent health rumours while presenting an award on Sunday, January 5. At 77, Elton proved that his sense of humour is as sharp as ever, even when facing personal challenges. Taking the stage with singer-songwriter Brandi Carlile, Elton had the crowd hanging on his every word as he prepared to present the award for Best Original Score – Motion Picture. But before getting down to business, he took a moment to directly address swirling reports about his eyesight, which had sparked concern among fans in recent months.
True to form, he tackled the issue head-on, laced with the kind of humour that only Elton could pull off. “There’s been a lot of stories going around about my regressive eyesight and I just wanted to reassure everybody that it’s not as bad as it seems,” he said with a confident smile, easing the tension in the room.
According to People, Elton didn’t stop there. Gesturing towards his co-host, Brandi Carlile, he added with a twinkle in his eye, “So, I’m so pleased to be here with my co-host — Rihanna.” The unexpected joke brought laughter and applause, reminding everyone of Elton’s charisma and quick wit.
Carlile, 43, played along seamlessly, continuing the presentation by explaining the significance of a film’s score. She described it as an “emotional landscape” that creates “a conversation with the audience through the music.” Together, the duo announced Challengers as the winner, recognising Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their work.
While the moment was lighthearted, it also came against the backdrop of Elton’s recent revelations about his health. In a 2024 interview with Good Morning America, he shared that he had lost vision in his right eye following an infection he contracted during a summer trip to the south of France.
“It kind of floored me and I can’t see anything. I can’t read anything, I can’t watch anything,” Elton said, detailing the impact the condition had on his daily life. To make matters more complicated, his left eye wasn’t in great shape either, making tasks like reading lyrics or enjoying movies increasingly difficult, reports People.
