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This Day in Gay: Elton John

03/25/2026

Happy 79th Birthday to Captain Fantastic himself, Sir Elton John. The (self-proclamed) world’s most famous homosexual continues to perform, write, and work at a stage where most rockstars pack it in. He is a relentless talent known as much for his music as for his committment to a host of charitable causes.

A few surprising facts about Elton John

Elton is the 19th EGOT winner with an Emmy for his Farewell from Dodger Stadium special, 5 Grammy awards including “That’s What Friends Are For” (1987), Can You Feel the Love Tonight (1995), and Candle in the Wind (1998), Best Original Song Oscars for Lion King and Rocketman, and a Best Orginal Score Tony for Aida.
He is ranked third on Billboard’s list of Greatest of All Time Artists. Only The Beatles and The Rolling Stones rank higher.
Elton has achieved two diamond, 43 platinum or multi-platinum, and 26 gold albums, over 70 Top 40 hits, and he has sold more than 327 million records worldwide. He holds the record for the biggest-selling physical single of all time, Candle In The Wind 1997, which sold over 33 million copies.
Elton had at least one charted Billboard hit every year for 39 years from 1970-2009.
In 1979, he was the first Western rock star to perform in Israel and the USSR.
When Steve Winwood left The Spencer Davis Group to form Traffic, Elton auditioned to take Winwood’s place. Unfortunately, he was turned down. He also auditioned for the lead vocalist spot in the rock band King Crimson but was turned down.
Elton was considered for the role of Clark Kent/Superman in Superman the Movie (1978) losing the role to Christopher Reeves.
Elton performs at weddings for fees over $1 million dollars. His most famous private booking to date is perhaps when he played Rush Limbaugh’s wedding reception in 2010. John donated the proceeds to his AIDS foundation, as he does for all of his wedding bookings.
Listen for Elton in the background singing “why why why” on Tom Jones’ hit-song Delilah.