Elton John took to Instagram to mark a significant milestone in his sobriety journey. The 79-year-old musician posted a photograph of himself toasting with a glass of his own brand alcohol-free wine, Elton John Zero Blanc de Blancs, along with a heartfelt message.
“36 years sober today. Raising a 0% glass to life. Grateful for every single day,” he wrote, also sharing the image on his Instagram Story set to his 1983 anthem I’m Still Standing.
Support from Celebrities
Several of his celebrity friends quickly showed their support. Alan Carr and Nicola Peltz, wife of Brooklyn Beckham, posted clapping and love heart emojis. Journalist Susannah Constantine commented: “My love. My life. My best friend,” while Loose Women’s Janet Street Porter added: “So impressive! Well done xxxx”
History with Addiction
Elton has been open about his past struggles with alcohol and drugs. He began using substances in the 1970s as his music career took off, with his dependency worsening in the 1980s. He entered rehab in July 1990 and has remained clean since.
His experiences were chronicled in a biographical film about his life. Speaking to Variety, he said: “The life I was leading, flying on the Starship [his private plane], living in beautiful houses, buying things left, right and centre - it was not a normal life. Not the sort of life I came from anyway. I lost complete touch with that. I vowed when I did change my life that that would never happen again.”
He also revealed the health complications caused by his substance abuse: “There were times I was having chest pains or staying up for three days at a time. I used to have spasms and be found on the floor, and they'd put me back to bed, and half an hour later I'd be doing the same. It's crazy.”
