Elton John Reveals He Can't Watch His Own Musical Due To Sight Loss

Legendary musician Elton John has shared that ongoing health issues have made it physically impossible for him to watch his own musical, The Devil Wears Prada.

The 77-year-old composer revealed his struggles with vision loss during a gala performance of the musical, held on December 1, 2024, to raise funds for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Photo Credit: X- @rhyspyle1997

Speaking on stage, John, who is blind in one eye and has limited vision in the other, thanked his husband, David Furnish, for being his support throughout this challenging time. “I haven’t been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight,” John said. “It’s hard for me to see it. But I love to hear it, and boy, it sounded good tonight,” as reported by The Guardian.

In September, John had disclosed that a severe eye infection, contracted in July while in France, left him blind in his right eye and severely impaired his left. "I am healing, but it’s an extremely slow process," he explained. “It will take some time before sight returns to the impacted eye.”

The vision loss has also delayed his work on a new album with longtime collaborator Bernie Taupin. “I unfortunately lost my eyesight in my right eye in July due to an infection in the south of France, and it’s been four months now since I haven’t been able to see,” John shared during a Good Morning America interview, as reported by The Guardian. "My left eye is not the greatest either, so it’s difficult to go into the studio and record because I can’t even see the lyrics."

The gala performance celebrated the West End opening of The Devil Wears Prada, a musical based on Lauren Weisberger’s 2003 novel and the 2006 film. The story follows Andy, an aspiring journalist who becomes the assistant to the infamous Miranda Priestly, a tough fashion magazine editor. The role of Priestly is portrayed by Vanessa Williams in the production, which debuted at London’s Dominion Theatre.

The event drew notable figures from the fashion industry, including Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour, who is often speculated to have inspired the character of Miranda Priestly. When asked about the connection, Wintour told the BBC, “It’s for the audience and for the people I work with to decide if there are any similarities between me and Miranda Priestly,” as per media report.

Despite the setbacks caused by his eyesight, Elton John’s influence in the world of music and theatre remains unwavering. His dedication to his craft and charitable efforts through the Elton John AIDS Foundation continues to make a lasting impact on the arts and beyond.