Elton John, a renowned musical icon, recently faced a significant challenge as he revealed at a gala performance of his new musical, "The Devil Wears Prada", that his ongoing eyesight problems prevent him from directly seeing the show. This revelation came as a shock to many, especially considering his long and successful career.

Elton John's Eyesight Hinders His Creative Journey

Ongoing Eyesight Issues and Their Impact

Elton John, at the age of 77, shared on stage that he has been unable to attend many of the previews due to the loss of his eyesight. The severe eye infection he contracted in July while in France has left him blind in his right eye and with only limited vision in his left. He expressed his gratitude to his husband David Furnish, stating that he has been his rock during this difficult time. In a statement shared on social media, he wrote, "I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process and it will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye. I am so grateful for the excellent team of doctors and nurses and my family, who have taken such good care of me over the last several weeks."This visual struggle has not only affected his ability to enjoy the performances but has also delayed his next album with long-time collaborator Bernie Taupin. As he said, "I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July because I had an infection in the south of France and it’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see, and my left eye is not the greatest. So, there’s hope and encouragement that it will be OK, but… I’m kind of stuck at the moment, because I can do something like this [the interview], but going into the studio and recording, I don’t know, because I can’t see a lyric for a start."

The Devil Wears Prada Musical and Its Significance

"The Devil Wears Prada", which John wrote the lyrics for, has just opened in London’s West End at the Dominion Theatre. This musical is based on the initial novel by author Lauren Weisberger and later adapted for film. It tells the story of Andy, an aspirational journalist who becomes the assistant to a notoriously difficult fashion magazine editor, Miranda Priestly. In the musical, Priestly is played by US model and actor Vanessa Williams.The starry event attended by many famous faces from the fashion world, including Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who it has long been rumoured to have loosely inspired the character of Priestly. Speaking to the BBC on the red carpet, Wintour said, "It’s for the audience and for the people I work with to decide if there are any similarities between me and Miranda Priestly."This gala performance was staged to raise funds for the Elton John Aids Foundation, highlighting John's commitment to making a difference beyond his musical achievements. His determination to continue creating and supporting important causes in the face of his visual difficulties is truly inspiring.