Elton John 'can't watch sons play rugby' after eyesight loss

Sir Elton John has expressed concern about his sons playing rugby. An infection last summer affected his eyesight.

"I can't see TV or read," the 78-year-old told The Times. "I can't watch my boys play rugby and soccer."

He described this period as very stressful. "It's distressing because I'm used to soaking it all up," he added.

In September, he shared on Instagram that a "severe" infection left him with limited vision in one eye. He mentioned that recovery would take time.

Sir Elton and his husband, David Furnish, have two sons: Zachary and Elijah. He said he hasn't been able to see anything since last July.

He admitted feeling emotional about his sight loss. However, he feels lucky for his life and family. He can still see a little out of his left eye.

"So you say to yourself, just get on with it," he remarked.

Previously, Sir Elton struggled to finish his new album due to eyesight issues. In November, he noted it had been a while since he'd done anything new.

On Friday, he released a collaborative album with Brandi Carlile titled *Who Believes In Angels?* They worked with producer Andrew Watt and songwriter Bernie Taupin on the project.

Sir Elton mentioned they didn't always agree during the process. He felt frustrated when others challenged him.

"If I want to make a great album at my age, I need feedback," he explained. He acknowledged feelings of anxiety and self-doubt during production.

He considered abandoning the project but realized three others were involved. Walking away would have made him regretful for life.

Doubts about music are not new for him. "You wouldn't be human if you didn't have fear and doubt," he said.

He has experienced doubts with every album he's created, especially this one.

Critics mostly praised the new album. Lisa Wright from The Guardian awarded it four stars for its poignant moments. Neil McCormick from The Telegraph gave it five stars, calling it a glorious return to form.

In January, Sir Elton's greatest hits collection *Diamonds* reached number one after 374 weeks on the charts. This collection features iconic songs like "Tiny Dancer" and "Rocket Man."

Last year, Sir Elton won his first Emmy Award, achieving EGOT status. This means he joined an exclusive group of performers who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony award.