Elton John says his recent vision loss has changed the way he makes music, forcing him to rethink the songwriting process he has used for decades. Speaking in Toronto while accepting the Glenn Gould Prize, John explained that eye trouble has made his usual method difficult, because he typically starts by looking at lyrics and writing to them. The change, however, has led him into a very different creative space.
John said he is “kind of” stuck at the moment because of the sight problems, but he also described an unexpected upside. At 80, he said the situation has allowed him to completely reverse how he writes: now he is putting melodies first and lyrics second, something he says he has never done before.
The singer’s eyesight issues stem from a severe eye infection he contracted in 2024, which left him with greatly reduced vision in his right eye. John has previously called the experience devastating, and he has spoken openly in recent months about how difficult it has been to live and work with the condition.
Even so, John said the new process has already produced a fresh album that sounds unlike anything he has made before. He described the record as “so happy” and said he is thrilled with it because it has given him “another chance to make music.” At this stage, though, he has not revealed the album’s title or release date.
John also used the moment to underline just how central music remains to his life. He said, “If I don’t make music, I’m dead,” adding that music is his soul and driving force. For an artist with more than 30 studio albums behind him, the remark made clear that even serious health setbacks have not dulled his creative urgency.
The comments arrive during a period when John has been speaking more candidly about his health and the emotional impact of losing sight. In earlier interviews, he described the experience as deeply painful, but he has also repeatedly stressed hope and patience as he adjusts to the new reality.
For now, the biggest takeaway is that Elton John is still creating, still adapting, and still pushing forward. What changed was not the music itself, but the path he has to take to make it.
