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This week marked an important personal achievement for Sir Elton John as he reached 35 years of sobriety.
On July 29, Elton took to Instagram to share a heartfelt moment from his "sobriety birthday." He posted a photo of handmade cards and flowers he received, including those from his sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, and husband David Furnish. "Grateful for all the love on my sobriety birthday 🙏🏻❤️," he captioned the post.
One of the cards from his family read, "Happy 35th Birthday! We are so proud of you!" Two framed drawings, likely gifts from his sons, were also seen in the photo.
The celebration sparked warm reactions from friends and fans alike. Tennis icon Billie Jean King, a longtime friend, commented, "So proud of you, always." Other fans flooded the comments with praise. One wrote, "One day at a time Sir Elton," while another added, "Will always be so proud of you and how you've invested so much effort into your sobriety and how you've helped others along the way. Much love always."
Elton has been open about his battle with addiction, which he said nearly destroyed his career and life. "I would have an epileptic seizure and turn blue, and people would find me on the floor and put me to bed, and then 40 minutes later I'd be snorting another line," he told Piers Morgan in 2010.
In 1990, after the death of his friend Ryan White, Elton sought treatment at Parkside Lutheran Hospital in Chicago, where he stayed for six weeks. He's often credited White's passing as the moment that helped him take his life into his own hands.
In a 2019 interview with Variety, he spoke about how his extravagant lifestyle at the time, filled with private planes, upscale properties, and constant indulgence, had become completely detached from reality. He noted that although life still comes with its challenges, sobriety has given him the clarity and resilience to confront them without needing to escape.
Elton now uses his experience to help others. In his memoir Me, he shared that he has supported others in their recovery journeys, including serving as a sponsor for Eminem through Alcoholics Anonymous and offering guidance to Boy George during his own path to sobriety.
