Elton John thanks his fans for ’52 years of pure joy’ as he concludes his touring career

After more than 50 years on the road, Elton John has officially retired from touring.

The renowned artist performed his final tour act at Stockholm’s Tele2 Arena on Saturday, the final stop on his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour.

“I’ve had the most incredible career, beyond words. How fortunate am I to be able to play music for 52 years?” John, 76, told the audience as he finished his concert with “Your Song” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.”

“But, you know, if it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be sitting here talking to you. You bought the singles, albums, CDs, and cassettes, but more importantly, you bought the concert tickets, and you know how much I enjoy performing live.”

After the show, the five-time Grammy winner thanked his fans for their unending support spanning more than five decades.

“My fans have been there for me every step of the way.” They’ve remained with me, they’ve supported me, they’ve been patient, and they’ve been coming to every single event,” he stated in a post-show statement, according to Consequence.

“Tonight has been a beautiful night. I’m still processing everything, and I don’t believe it’ll take a while before I’m finally done touring. I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss the fans or how much their love has humbled me – it will live on in my heart forever.”

At one point during the event, the “Tiny Dancer” singer received a special message from Chris Martin, who was performing with his band, Coldplay, in Sweden at the same time.

“Elton, we just wanna say, from all of us here, from all the bands and artists that you’ve loved, inspired, and helped, we just love you so much,” Martin, 46, said in part. “We love you tremendously. Happy retirement and we’ll miss you terribly, dude.”

John, who has been traveling since 1970, took to Instagram earlier Saturday to deliver a poignant message before of the highly anticipated event.

“What a journey this tour has been, and now we find ourselves at the end of it,” he wrote. “Tonight is the final night.”

While John is no longer traveling, he and his management have previously announced that fans can expect to see him perform in some way in the coming years.

“It’s essential to distinguish between Elton retiring from touring and Elton not performing his very last public performance for the very last time,” John’s husband and manager, David Furnish, told Billboard last November.

“I know he will not be touring in any capacity. What you’ll see is the prospect of a spectacular one-time event or a short residency in a single place for a limited time.”

Related Posts

The Winter Coat That Changed More Than One Life

Eight months after losing my wife of 43 years, I thought loneliness would be the hardest part of my new life—until one freezing afternoon in a Walmart…

The Letter Hidden Beneath the Drawer

On the night of our wedding, in the home my husband once shared with his late wife, I discovered a letter tucked beneath the drawer of my…

The Strange Morning My Garden Taught Me a Lesson

On what should have been an uneventful morning, I stepped into my garden expecting nothing more than watering flowers and chasing away the usual visiting cats. But…

The Quiet Comfort of Cats: Why Their Presence Feels Almost Mystical

Cats have always carried an air of quiet mystique, a quality that has prompted people to connect them with symbolism and poetry throughout history. One short quatrain…

Why Consistent Hydration Matters More Than Timing

Hydration is essential for nearly every function in the body, from regulating temperature to transporting nutrients and keeping joints functioning smoothly. Many people believe that drinking water…

The Moment She Stopped Staying Silent

When he called her “useless,” the word sliced through the room with a cruelty that settled heavily over everyone present. It wasn’t the first insult he had…