Elton John's Husband Says 'He'll Probably Outlive Me' After Revealing Mortality Concerns: 'Strong as an Ox' (Exclusive)

Mar. 15, 2025

David Furnish and Elton John in March 2024.Photo:Theo Wargo/GettyElton Johnmay harbor concerns about his mortality, but husbandDavid Furnishis focused on the positive.Furnish, 61, tells PEOPLE that a poignant scene in the new documentaryElton John: Never Too Late— in which his superstar husbanddiscusses his fearsover not being around for milestones in their children’s life — gave him “a lot of anxiety” to watch back.“I don’t think it’s a conversation you want to have with your children. I don’t want to plant that seed in their mind,” he says. “Elton’s been through a lot, but he’s also as strong as an ox. He rarely cancels shows. He’s a strong man, and he’s a healer. He’ll probably outlive me. He’s just so tough.”Furnish, who co-directed the documentary with R.J. Cutler, and John, 77, have been together for more than 30 years, and share sonsZachary, 13 and Elijah, 11.David Furnish, Eljiah, Zachary and Elton John in 2015.Michael Kovac/GettyIn the documentary, the “Tiny Dancer” singer says his kids “worry about my mortality,” and that they “love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever.”“I want to see them have children and get married. I don’t think I’m going to be around for that. Who knows? You never know,” he says. “So that’s why I want to use the best time — the best of my time — while I’m around. Time together is so wonderful and so precious.”Furnish tells PEOPLE that while he wants John “to be around forever,” he’s happy with the current state of their life, especially since John announced his retirement from touring.“Look, I want him to be around forever. And both of us, in the 30 years we’ve been together, we’re only just at this moment that we’ve only ever dreamed of,” he says. “Elton was always doing 90, 100 shows a year, working constantly… And then we had our sons, and then that whole reality takes place.”Elton John and David Furnish at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6.Sonia Recchia/GettyFurnish says the five-time Grammy winner’s decision to step away wasn’t some “instant epiphany” that hit him overnight — and that his retirement from the road is the real deal.“He’s never going back on the road. He’s genuinely so happy,” says Furnish. “So for us to be at this moment right now, after so much hard work and so much anticipation, there’s a lot of heightened emotion.”John and Furnishwalked the red carpettogether at TIFF at the documentary’s premiere on Friday, Sept. 6. It marked the first public appearance for the superstar since he revealed that asevere eye infectionleft him with “limited vision” in one eye.From his iconic 1974 Madison Square Garden show to his final play at Dodger Stadium in 2022, the film follows John as he reflects on the early days of his decades-long career while preparing to play hisfinal North American show.

David Furnish and Elton John in March 2024.Photo:Theo Wargo/Getty

Theo Wargo/Getty

Elton Johnmay harbor concerns about his mortality, but husbandDavid Furnishis focused on the positive.Furnish, 61, tells PEOPLE that a poignant scene in the new documentaryElton John: Never Too Late— in which his superstar husbanddiscusses his fearsover not being around for milestones in their children’s life — gave him “a lot of anxiety” to watch back.“I don’t think it’s a conversation you want to have with your children. I don’t want to plant that seed in their mind,” he says. “Elton’s been through a lot, but he’s also as strong as an ox. He rarely cancels shows. He’s a strong man, and he’s a healer. He’ll probably outlive me. He’s just so tough.”Furnish, who co-directed the documentary with R.J. Cutler, and John, 77, have been together for more than 30 years, and share sonsZachary, 13 and Elijah, 11.David Furnish, Eljiah, Zachary and Elton John in 2015.Michael Kovac/GettyIn the documentary, the “Tiny Dancer” singer says his kids “worry about my mortality,” and that they “love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever.”“I want to see them have children and get married. I don’t think I’m going to be around for that. Who knows? You never know,” he says. “So that’s why I want to use the best time — the best of my time — while I’m around. Time together is so wonderful and so precious.”Furnish tells PEOPLE that while he wants John “to be around forever,” he’s happy with the current state of their life, especially since John announced his retirement from touring.“Look, I want him to be around forever. And both of us, in the 30 years we’ve been together, we’re only just at this moment that we’ve only ever dreamed of,” he says. “Elton was always doing 90, 100 shows a year, working constantly… And then we had our sons, and then that whole reality takes place.”Elton John and David Furnish at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6.Sonia Recchia/GettyFurnish says the five-time Grammy winner’s decision to step away wasn’t some “instant epiphany” that hit him overnight — and that his retirement from the road is the real deal.“He’s never going back on the road. He’s genuinely so happy,” says Furnish. “So for us to be at this moment right now, after so much hard work and so much anticipation, there’s a lot of heightened emotion.”John and Furnishwalked the red carpettogether at TIFF at the documentary’s premiere on Friday, Sept. 6. It marked the first public appearance for the superstar since he revealed that asevere eye infectionleft him with “limited vision” in one eye.From his iconic 1974 Madison Square Garden show to his final play at Dodger Stadium in 2022, the film follows John as he reflects on the early days of his decades-long career while preparing to play hisfinal North American show.

Elton Johnmay harbor concerns about his mortality, but husbandDavid Furnishis focused on the positive.

Furnish, 61, tells PEOPLE that a poignant scene in the new documentaryElton John: Never Too Late— in which his superstar husbanddiscusses his fearsover not being around for milestones in their children’s life — gave him “a lot of anxiety” to watch back.

“I don’t think it’s a conversation you want to have with your children. I don’t want to plant that seed in their mind,” he says. “Elton’s been through a lot, but he’s also as strong as an ox. He rarely cancels shows. He’s a strong man, and he’s a healer. He’ll probably outlive me. He’s just so tough.”

Furnish, who co-directed the documentary with R.J. Cutler, and John, 77, have been together for more than 30 years, and share sonsZachary, 13 and Elijah, 11.

David Furnish, Eljiah, Zachary and Elton John in 2015.Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

In the documentary, the “Tiny Dancer” singer says his kids “worry about my mortality,” and that they “love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever.”

“I want to see them have children and get married. I don’t think I’m going to be around for that. Who knows? You never know,” he says. “So that’s why I want to use the best time — the best of my time — while I’m around. Time together is so wonderful and so precious.”

Furnish tells PEOPLE that while he wants John “to be around forever,” he’s happy with the current state of their life, especially since John announced his retirement from touring.

“Look, I want him to be around forever. And both of us, in the 30 years we’ve been together, we’re only just at this moment that we’ve only ever dreamed of,” he says. “Elton was always doing 90, 100 shows a year, working constantly… And then we had our sons, and then that whole reality takes place.”

Elton John and David Furnish at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sept. 6.Sonia Recchia/Getty

Sonia Recchia/Getty

Furnish says the five-time Grammy winner’s decision to step away wasn’t some “instant epiphany” that hit him overnight — and that his retirement from the road is the real deal.

“He’s never going back on the road. He’s genuinely so happy,” says Furnish. “So for us to be at this moment right now, after so much hard work and so much anticipation, there’s a lot of heightened emotion.”

John and Furnishwalked the red carpettogether at TIFF at the documentary’s premiere on Friday, Sept. 6. It marked the first public appearance for the superstar since he revealed that asevere eye infectionleft him with “limited vision” in one eye.

From his iconic 1974 Madison Square Garden show to his final play at Dodger Stadium in 2022, the film follows John as he reflects on the early days of his decades-long career while preparing to play hisfinal North American show.

source: people.com