Tragedy and the Future

After an astounding year in 1992, Elton was back on top, doing incredibly well in his personal and professional life. His proactive work for AIDS, with the Elton John AIDS Foundation and benefit concerts, brought him a satisfaction that meant more than commercial and financial success. In an interview on the BBC aired on March 30, 1997, Elton shared how growing older meant growing more peaceful: “I quite like being by myself sometimes. Just to zone out at home. I never used to be good at that. I used to have to have people around me. The older you get the more tolerant you become to being alone.”

Finding Peace and Moving On

Recovering from the death of a loved one is a long process, and Elton was recovering from the deaths of two loved ones. However, unlike in the past when he let himself sink into depression, Elton directed his attention not to his pain but to how he could use this experience to help teach others.

Knighthood

On February 24, 1998, Elton John received a knighthood for his contribution to music and his AIDS fund-raising. His name from that moment forward has been Sir Elton John. What exactly does a knighthood entail? It is basically a sign of honor and loyalty to one's country. Elton, through his music and influence as a star, helped better the United Kingdom—the knighthood honors him for this.