Elton John recently expressed his heartfelt challenges regarding his vision while attending the opening night of his new musical, “The Devil Wears Prada,” in London. At 77, the iconic singer-songwriter revealed to the audience that an infection has resulted in significant loss of eyesight, making it difficult for him to fully appreciate his latest work visually. Despite this struggle, he found joy in the sounds of the performance, stating, “It’s hard for me to see it, but I love to hear it, and, boy, it sounded good tonight.”
In September, John shared the news of his sight impairment on Instagram, noting that he has “only limited vision in one eye” and described the healing process as slow and ongoing. Even with these challenges, he took pride in composing the score for “The Devil Wears Prada,” which is based on the beloved 2006 film about a young journalist navigating the world of high fashion.
The musical, currently showing at the Dominion Theatre in London, features Vanessa Williams in the role of the formidable editor, Miranda Priestly—a character famously portrayed by Meryl Streep in the original movie. The gala event was not only a festive occasion but also served as a fundraiser for the Elton John AIDS Foundation, attracting numerous celebrities and notable figures from the fashion industry, including renowned designer Donatella Versace and former Vogue editor Anna Wintour, who is often speculated to have inspired the character of Priestly. Wintour herself deemed the musical “entertaining,” reinforcing its appeal.
This situation highlights Elton John’s resilience and dedication to his art, even in the face of personal adversity. With ongoing healing, there is hope that he may regain more of his vision, allowing him to experience the fruits of his labor even more vividly in the future.