Elton John took a moment to honor Neil Diamond during a press conference on January 24, where he announced his upcoming Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour—his final run before retiring from touring.
The tribute came just a day after Neil Diamond revealed his Parkinson’s disease diagnosis, which sadly forced him to cancel the remaining dates of his 50th anniversary tour across Australia and New Zealand.
“I want to pay my respects to him,” Elton shared, reflecting on how Diamond had once helped kickstart his career. “He introduced me at the Troubadour in LA, simply because he liked my record. He was a massive star then, and he still is now. I’ll be reaching out to him personally, but I want to say publicly—I love him and I can’t thank him enough for what he did for me.”
Elton also made it clear that his own farewell tour would truly be his last. “I’m not Cher,” he joked, referencing her string of comeback tours. “This is the end.” The three-year global tour kicks off in the US this September, with UK dates set for 2019 and 2020. Tickets go on sale later this year.
“Performing live has always fueled me,” Elton added. “But after this tour, it’s time to close that chapter and focus on my family. I want to be there to raise my kids and enjoy life off the road.”
The back-to-back retirement announcements mark the end of an era for two legendary artists, but their music—and the moments they’ve created—will continue to inspire generations to come.
