Elton John | Celebrity Mound

Elton John Inks A 3 Year Deal With Caesars Palace

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Sep 282011

Elton John is returning to Las Vegas for a three-year headlining gig at Caesars Palace.

The five-time Grammy winner was set to perform Wednesday night for the first of 16 shows scheduled through October, the first performances of a new show titled “The Million Dollar Piano.”

The remainder of the shows during the three-year run have not yet been announced.

John says it’s named for the instrument he’ll play during the show – a piano that took manufacturer Yamaha four years to build.

“It’s going to surprise a lot of people,” John said of the instrument earlier this year as the show was announced.

“This isn’t like the old days,” John said of the new show. “It’s going to be certainly different from anything you’ve seen from me before, as was `The Red Piano,’” his previous show at Caesars.

His return comes more than two years after that five-year stint that ended in 2009. The run was originally planned for three years but was extended because of demand.

“The Red Piano” included risque imagery – with high-tech videos and large, inflatable props – plus the hits John has become known for during a career that’s spanned more than 40 years.

Jason Gastwirth, senior vice president of entertainment for casino owner Caesars Entertainment Corp., believes John’s run could be extended again.

“I think it’s very possible, both on duration and number of shows,” Gastwirth said. “There’s been such a large appetite by his fans to come see the show.”

John is one of music’s most decorated stars, known for songs including “Candle in the Wind,” “Rocket Man” and “Bennie and the Jets.” He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998, inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and honored by the Kennedy Center in 2004 for his lifetime contributions to performing arts.

John won an Academy Award in 1994 for his original song, “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” from Disney’s “The Lion King.”

Lady Gaga will be Godmother to Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s baby boy, Zachary

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Feb 252011

Film producer David let slip in a recent interview that the couple are lining up the eccentric singer to play an important role in the life of their two-month-old son, who was born on Christmas Day via a surrogate mother.

When asked about rumours they would choose Gaga by Canadian website macleans.ca, he replied: “We haven’t publicly confirmed that yet but your sources are very good!

“I prefer not to comment on it because we are going to make a statement about Godparents later on.”

Elton and Gaga struck up a friendship after performing together at the Grammy Awards in 2010, and David further praised the singer – who composed her latest track ‘Born This Way’ about social inclusion and has called it a “gay anthem” – for her broad-mindedness and personal connection to her fans.

He said: “She’s all about inclusiveness and tolerance. She believes that you can be whoever you want to be and that we don’t have to live in a world of conformity and that we can all benefit from individuality.
“That’s the best message in the world. The freedom to be who you are, do what you want and love who you want to love.”

David, 48, also explained how this message is what he feels makes Gaga an ideal role model for Zachary.

He added: “Elton and I don’t talk about what we hope Zachary grows up to be – musician, doctor or whatever. We just hope he grows up to be happy and that he’s able to do what he wants to do in life and has the freedom to take whatever path.”

David is a Godparent himself, to Elizabeth Hurley’s eight-year-old son Damian, while Elton is Godfather to Victoria and David Beckham’s eldest two sons, Brooklyn, 11 and eight-year-old Romeo.

Elton John Wants Rush Limbaugh To Support Gay Marriage

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Feb 022011

Elton John is convinced he can force outspoken radio host Rush Limbaugh to relax his stance against gay marriage after performing at his wedding.

The British rocker was stunned when Limbaugh invited him to play at the ceremony – because he always thought the hardline conservative was anti-gay.

He tells the new issue of Rolling Stone magazine, “I could not believe when I was asked to play. I thought it was a joke. I had dialogue with him before and he said, ‘I’m not anti-gay, I want you to come, bring David Furnish.’”

And now Elton is hoping to use his relationship with Limbaugh to make the top-rated radio star see sense about gay marriage.

He adds, “My goal is for Rush to say, ‘I support civil partnerships’. If I rang him right now, I think he might agree. He was one of the first people to congratulate us on the baby.”

Elton and Furnish became fathers to a baby boy, born via surrogate, at Christmas.

Elton John Says Billy Joel Needs Some Serious Rehab

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Feb 012011

Elton John says Billy Joel needs to get serious about rehab and “do something better” with his life. John makes the comments about his former touring partner in the Feb. 17 edition of Rolling Stone magazine. He tells the magazine the pair canceled many tours because of Joel’s illnesses and “alcoholism.”

He also says Joel should do rehab like he did it – with patients cleaning floors, not watching television.

John says he knows Joel is going to “hate” him for this. But he says Joel needs tough love.

Joel spent a month in a California rehab center for treatment of alcohol abuse in 2005. He spent about two weeks at a Connecticut facility in 2002.

Elton John Will Not Perform At The Royal Wedding

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Jan 242011

Elton John has ruled out a performance at the royal wedding in England this spring because he doesn’t really know Prince William and his bride-to-be.

The rocker famously performed a special version of his Candle in the Wind hit at the funeral of William’s mother Princess Diana in 1997 – and music industry experts expect him to be at the top of the heir’s wish list when it comes to selecting stars for his wedding to Kate Middleton.

But Elton tells HollyScoop.com people are getting carried away by his connections to the royals – and he’s not even expecting an invite.

He says, “I don’t know them (princes William and Harry) very well. I’ve only met them twice – once when they were young and once at the Diana Memorial Concert… I knew their mother but that is the only thing.

“I’m not playing at the wedding. I haven’t been asked and I don’t expect to be asked.”

But he thinks Diana’s eldest son and his wife-to-be make the perfect couple: “I just hope they have the most wonderful day and life together. They seem so happy.”

Sir Elton John And David Furnish Open Up About Their Baby’s Birth

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Jan 182011

Sir Elton John and David Furnish’s baby “shot out like a rocket” on the day he was born.

The couple – who welcomed surrogate baby Zachary into the world on Christmas Day – rushed to witness the “dramatic” birth of their first child, which saw the obstetrician have to catch the infant in his arms.

Elton explained: “Suddenly, at 2.15am on Christmas Day, we were woken up. They said, ‘Quickly! The baby’s coming!’ We went in and stood behind the bed. Then the top of the head came out and David said, ‘My God, there’s the head!’

“Then he shot out like a rocket basically – so much so that the obstetrician sort of caught him! It was so dramatic and exciting, we didn’t have time to get emotional. Like there he was, talk about fast!”

Despite being one of the world’s wealthiest couples, the pair plan to be “hands on” parents and will only be spoiling Zachary with love, rather than material possessions.

Elton added to OK! magazine: “I feed him. David feeds him. We change his nappies. I mean, it’s hands on! We are on nappy patrol.

“I’m ready to have a child and lavish my love on our son and not spoil him but be there for him and advise him. We don’t want to spoil him materially, although he’s already been spoiled rotten by people buying him stuff! We just want to give him some wisdom.”

Billy Joel Will Join Elton John Onstage In March Concert

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Jan 072011

Billy Joel is reportedly set to celebrate his speedy recovery from double hip replacement surgery by joining his pal Sir Elton John onstage in March when the Brit plays New York’s fabled Madison Square Garden.

The 61-year-old singer had the operation in November, but was already back on his feet and hobbling around with the help of two canes within two weeks of the surgery.

And, according to the New York Post’s Page Six column, the Piano Man is preparing to make his live comeback by performing alongside the Rocket Man for a special appearance at one of his upcoming gigs in the Big Apple.

Representatives for both stars had yet to comment on the rumors as we went to press.

John is due to play Madison Square Garden on March 16 and 20, 2011.

The rock legends are frequent collaborators and reunited in 2009 to tour the U.S. with their highly successful Face 2 Face show.

Elton John Is A New Father

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Dec 282010

Sir Elton John is holding close a new tiny dancer.

The piano man and husband David Furnish have become parents to a 7-pound, 15-ounce baby boy born on Christmas Day. The news was first reported Monday night by USMagazine.com and confirmed by John’s Los Angeles-based publicist.

Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born in California via a surrogate, whose identity is being protected by the new parents.

Zachary is 62-year-old John’s first child with the 48-year-old Furnish. The couple married in 2005.

In a joint statement, the new parents told USMagazine.com that “Zachary is healthy and doing well” and they are “overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment.”

Elton John Dedicates A Song To Vanessa Redgrave

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May 152010

Sir Elton John showed his support for grieving actress Vanessa Redgrave at a concert in New York on Thursday night – dedicating a song to the star after she lost her daughter, brother and sister in a matter of months.

The 73 year old has faced a series of personal tragedies in recent months – her daughter Natasha Richardson died last year following a skiing accident, and the grief was compounded by the tragic deaths of her brother Corin, who passed away in April, and her sister Lynn, who lost her battle with breast cancer earlier this month.

Redgrave turned out to support Sting’s eco-friendly charity the Rainforest Fund at a fundraiser at Carnegie Hall this week, and the Rocket Man showed his appreciation for her appearance at the event by dedicating a track to her during his performance.

Before launching into a rendition of I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues, Sir Elton told the crowd, “She’s had a hell of a year. Vanessa, this is to you with love from me and all the artists on the stage.”