NEW YORK (AP) – Elton John is retiring from the road after his upcoming three-year global tour, capping nearly 50 years on stages around the world, and says he’s hoping to go out “with a bang.”
“I’ve had a good run, I think you’d admit that,” John said Wednesday. He added that he wanted to “leave people thinking, ‘I saw the last tour and it was fantastic.'”
The 70-year-old singer, pianist and composer said he wanted to spend time with his family. His children will be 10 and 8 when he stops and he hoped he might be able to take them to soccer practice. “My priorities now are my children and my husband and my family,” he said. “This is the end.”
John made the announcement at an event in New York in which he sat at a piano and performed “Tiny Dancer” and “I’m Still Standing.” He wore his signature glasses and a colorful suit jacket that read Gucci loves Elton.
At the Grammy Awards, to be presented in New York on Sunday, John is to perform alongside Miley Cyrus and will collect the President’s Merit Award. His Vegas residency ends in May after six years.