Pop Culture

Elton John Jokes About His Eyesight, Calls Brandi Carlile Rihanna

Elton John cracked a joke about his recent health issues while presenting the Best Original Film Score award at the Golden Globes.

Elton John and Brandi Carlile speak onstage at the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards.
CBS Photo Archive via Getty Images

While presenting the Best Original Film Score award at the Golden Globes, Elton John joked about his recent eyesight issues.

The 77-year-old singer-songwriter was joined by Brandi Carlile, 43, while presenting the award, and he took a moment to address the infection that caused him to lose most of his eyesight. "It's a very special night for me to be here because, I don't know if you know, but there's been a lot of stories going on around my regressive eyesight," he shared, before scoring a big laugh from the crowd. "I just wanted to reassure everybody that it's not as bad as it seems. So I'm so pleased to be here with my co-host, Rihanna."

The Golden Globe ultimately went to Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross for their work on Challengers, which John seemed very pleased about.

Last year, Elton John revealed that he lost his eyesight after battling an infection. The music industry icon was in attendance for a gala performance of The Devil Wears Prada musical, for which he composed the music, and said that he has been unable to attend many of the shows because of his struggles with his eyesight.

"I haven't been able to come to many of the previews because, as you know, I have lost my eyesight," said John. "So it's hard for me to see it. But I love to hear it and boy it sounded good tonight." He told his fans in September 2024 that he was left blind in one eye and with "only limited vision" in the other because of the infection.

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