Elton John Still Rocking the House
March 12 -- Well into his fourth decade as a superstar, Elton John is still selling out concert halls. With Oscars, Grammys and Tonys and a knighthood on his résumé, what's left for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend to conquer? Las Vegas, of course.
Watch Barbara Walters' full interview with Elton John on 20/20 at 10 p.m.
He's booked to perform 75 shows at Caesar's Palace Colosseum over the next three years for a reported $50 million. Not bad for little Reginald Dwight of Middlesex, England, whose musical talent was obvious by the age of 4.
As a teenager he joined a band, played in pubs — and starved. He changed his name to Elton John in 1967 and, in a gamble he says could rival any Vegas roll of the dice, he answered an ad to be a songwriter. He was paired with lyricist Bernie Taupin and together they created rock 'n' roll magic.
The words were Taupin's, but we heard and watched Elton. His eyeglasses and wigs were larger than life, and his outrageous wardrobe fueled the act and the image. But out-of-control behavior offstage led to drug and alcohol addictions that would take him years to kick.
On Addiction, His Relationship and Marriage
Ten years ago John spoke about the turning point that spurred him to tackle his addictions. "Somebody that I was in a relationship from America, he said that I was a drug addict, that I was an alcoholic, that I was bulimic, I was a liar … he didn't leave anything … And I sat there and I was trembling and I cried and he cried … And I was so relieved and I said, 'Yep, you're right. I'll go, I'll get help.' "
John says he's been clean and sober now for the past 13 ½ years, and feels he's a much wiser person. He's also been in a committed relationship with his partner, David Furnish, for more than 10 years.
John and Furnish, a 41-year-old former advertising executive who is now a filmmaker, met at a dinner party in 1993 and have been together ever since.
"It's a 50-50 relationship. I'm happier now than I even was when I saw you last. My sobriety has brought me everything that I could possibly wish for," John said.
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