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How Elton John became showbiz’s go-to peacemaker: Music legend has helped stars including Meghan Markle, Ed Sheeran and Anastasia before acting as mediator in godson Brooklyn Beckham’s family feud

BBG News

Over the course of his 60-year career in entertainment, it’s not surprising that Elton John has built up quite a collection of well-known acquaintances.

Furthermore, despite being renowned for his generosity, this music icon has consistently extended his assistance to fellow industry figures who face both public and private hardships without hesitation.

Elton John, aged 78, is well-known for his high-profile friends such as Ed Sheeran, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle. He has publicly expressed his efforts to help them during their tough times.

He’s mentioned before that he often reaches out and assists those struggling with addiction, as he has maintained sobriety for thirty years personally.

Lately, it has been revealed that Elton John has unexpectedly taken on the role of mediator in Brooklyn Beckham’s family dispute. Reports suggest that he expressed his views on the issue during an extravagant lunch with a renowned chef and his spouse, Nicola Peltz.

Some stars haven’t always been receptive to Elton’s efforts to assist, and he has expressed regret that he wasn’t able to provide more aid to the late George Michael, who struggled with drug addiction throughout much of his life.

Time will tell if Elton’s efforts to aid Brooklyn prove fruitless, as he has maintained a neutral stance in the Beckham family dispute according to past reports. However, there are numerous instances where the celebrity has extended help to his well-known companions.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Ever since their wedding in 2018, Elton has served as a trusted advisor to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. This is because he was also a dear friend of Princess Diana, Prince Harry’s late mother.

Over time, I’ve found myself making it a point to check in with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex on a daily basis, showing a deep sense of care for their well-being. I take pride in being a supportive friend to them.

It became clear that he stood up for the royal pair when they faced criticism for taking his personal plane to transport them and their infant son Archie (who was three months old at the time) to the singer’s vacation home in Nice, France.

The decision was made after Harry and Meghan faced criticism for taking private flights, despite their advocacy for environmental concerns over the past few months.

Elton John, known for his hit “Rocket Man”, countered the twisted and harmful portrayals about the Duke and Duchess’ vacation in the media, expressing on platform X: “Princess Diana, Harry’s mother, was one of my most cherished friends.

I have a deep, unyielding responsibility to shield Harry and his loved ones from unwarranted media attention, which tragically played a role in Princess Diana’s premature passing.

Additionally, Elton mentioned that he contributed sufficiently to a carbon offsetting fund to guarantee that both Prince Harry and Meghan’s recent travels to and from the French Riviera were carbon-neutral.

In 2023, Harry and Meghan expressed their appreciation for Elton’s unwavering loyalty by preparing a unique video message for his farewell concert.

In the heartfelt video tribute, the Prince expressed gratitude for being your friend to my mother, just as she was to you.

We appreciate your friendship, your role as a friend to our children, and your ability to bring joy to countless individuals worldwide. You have our heartfelt gratitude.”

This version conveys the same sentiment while using slightly different wording to make it sound more natural and easier to read.

Ed Sheeran 

Elton and Ed’s friendship goes back to the earliest days of the singer’s rise to fame. 

In 2015, it was disclosed that Elton John was among the initial celebrities to offer congratulations to Ed upon his achievement.

In his book, Ed Sheeran: A Visual Journey, he wrote, “Before receiving a text from my manager, I had likely received around seven unanswered calls. The message read: ‘Answer your phone! It’s Elton!’

It was quite surprising since I’ve always loved Elton John’s music growing up. It turned out he was calling to congratulate me, which was really neat.

Elton John referred to the hit song’s creator as a “dear friend” of his, as he bestowed upon him the prestigious Global Success award during the BRITs ceremony held in February, which took place over a video connection.

Four years past, Ed and Elton teamed up to publish a Christmas song jointly, and back then, the composer of The A Team mentioned that his friend calls him every day.

Ed mentioned that he and Elton often kept in touch regularly, but following the death of their mutual friend, producer Michael Gudinski, he sought solace in Elton’s friendship.

He shared with the New Zealand Herald that he often encounters disbelief or suspicion when he makes this statement, but he assures daily conversations with Elton are a regular occurrence.

He would call me approximately once a month, but now we communicate through FaceTime using an iPad since neither of us have phones. After Lyra was born, our conversations increased to nearly once a week as he also takes on the role of a father, frequently checking up.

‘But then when Michael died he rang me the day after and I just broke down and cried.

Since then, he has been in touch with me daily without fail. Whether it’s a lengthy conversation for a half-hour or just a brief check-in for two minutes, he makes sure to reach out and see how I am doing.

Brooklyn Beckham and Nicola Peltz

Elton was a close, long-standing friend of the Beckhams, to the point that David affectionately called him “Uncle.

For some time now, this strong connection has persisted between Brooklyn, Elton’s godson, and the renowned musician who has been subtly stepping into the role of mediator. He has been expressing his views on the chef’s prolonged disagreement with his relatives.

El artista de la Pequeña Bailarina extendió la invitación a Brooklyn y su esposa Nicola para comer en un exclusivo club de playa en Saint Tropez, con fuentes indicando que hablaron brevemente sobre el conflicto familiar con el fin de que Brooklyn reconciliara con sus padres.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d put it this way: “In the midst of the recent commotion, I find myself much like the Swiss in show business – Elton John remains impartial and uninvolved.

In his earlier days, Elton might have enjoyed picking sides – as shown by his young godson, Brooklyn – but now, with him being not far from his 80th birthday, he’s an individual who has experienced and accomplished much. All he desires is contentment for everyone.

As an over-the-moon godfather, I find myself utterly captivated by my godson and the sheer joy that Nicola brings into our lives with her infectious humor. I cherish every moment I get to spend with them, and in this role as their spiritual guide, I take it extremely seriously, wanting nothing more than to provide for their well-being and happiness.

‘Elton and David find themselves deeply saddened by the circumstances at hand, and they’ve kindly advised everyone involved that time is precious, so it would be wise for them to make amends.’

The source stated that Elton prefers to stay neutral and avoid involvement in the dispute; instead, he wishes for tranquility.

George Michael

Before his passing in 2016, George was well-known for being a collaborative partner of Elton’s. They performed together onstage in 1991 during a rendition of Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me, which became a massive hit.

In the throes of my unwavering fandom, I can’t help but share a piece of my heart. You see, there was this time when I found myself reaching out to George again and again, attempting to extend a helping hand as he grappled with his struggle against drug addiction.

In an interview with Channel 4 News, he shared, “I attempted to embrace him. I wanted to assist, yet it’s challenging to aid those unwilling to aid themselves.

I’ve discovered through my struggle with addiction, now in my 28th year of being clean and sober. When others advised me during my active addiction that I was making a mistake, I became enraged and either dismissed them or responded harshly, using more intense language.

It seems you’ve grasped that when I made certain comments, and he conducted an extensive interview… his response was essentially telling me to be quiet, which I understand is how he felt about the situation.

Earlier on, George expressed his dismay over Elton’s efforts to connect following his statement in a 2004 Heat Magazine interview where he described himself as being in an unusual state.

Unlike how it may appear to the public, our conversations over the past decade have been infrequent. What might shock many is that we’ve never once delved into discussions about my personal life. Not even a single time.

In truth, we didn’t develop a deep friendship, and that’s quite unfortunate. To be honest, much of what Elton believes he understands about my personal life remains largely based on rumors he’s heard through the LGBTQ+ community network.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that statement as follows: “After Elton playfully advised George to loosen up, the icon of the ’80s jokingly admitted the next year, ‘Oh boy, yes! I’ve always longed to be more carefree. In fact, I’ve spent my entire life craving that very thing.’

In time, the duo reconciled, and they were photographed together at the Elton John AIDS Foundation event held at the Royal Opera House in London during 2011.

Anastasia

Previously, pop legend Anastasia has expressed her gratitude towards Elton, whom she often refers to as her musical mentor or patron.

Ever since day one, I’ve been unwaveringly backing Elton John, the man behind “I’m Still Standing.” In fact, we shared a stage at Madison Square Garden in 2000, duetting on his epic hit, Saturday Night’s Alright (For Fighting), alongside none other than Anastacia. What an incredible moment that was!

Speaking to Attitude in 2017, she said: ‘He’s my fairy godfather; literally that’s what I call him.

He continually has beautiful kids, which I admire, and each year the holiday cards grow more adorable. I can hardly wait to meet them in person.

Anastasia mentioned that, having successfully overcome breast cancer post a double mastectomy in 2017, she eagerly anticipated showing off her newly acquired breasts to him.

‘Hopefully while I’m in town there’ll be a moment I can share my new boobs with him,’ she said. 

I need to show him these as well, since he’ll be seeing them anyway. It’s not that he’s particularly interested, but I showed him the others first, so he should see this new set too.

Others battling addiction

As a seasoned 34-year sobriety veteran, I, too, have found myself advocating for those close to me who’ve wrestled with addiction.

In his 2019 memoir “Me,” Elton John confessed that he has taken on the role of a supportive figure, almost like a celebrity guide, for other stars struggling with addiction issues.

He mentioned that in the past, he assisted actor Rufus Wain through rehab after his excessive use of crystal meth caused temporary blindness at one point. Additionally, he served as a sponsor for rapper Eminem in Alcoholics Anonymous.

‘Since I managed to overcome my public struggle with addiction and serve as an example for others, people often seek me out when they encounter difficulties in their lives.’

Elton found it amusing that his quick response to help pop stars struggling with alcohol or substance abuse has turned into a recurring gag, yet he is perfectly fine with it.

On The Jonathan Ross Show in 2021, he expressed that he reaches out to various individuals who have faced battles with addiction as a way to offer encouragement and solidarity.

He mentioned that he reaches out to provide assistance when needed, and he has done so a couple of times lately. There are two individuals, one younger and one older, who seem to be managing quite well. He is in recovery from alcoholism.

‘It’s important to share information and assist others whenever possible. This might involve reaching out to them for a chat and offering words of encouragement. In my own experience, I have been fortunate enough to receive kindness from others at times when I needed it most.’

Yet, similar to George, not every name has been as eager to take advantage of Elton’s assistance regarding Dionne Warwick. In fact, Dionne herself only asked him to help her niece, the late Whitney Houston, once, but he never received a response back from her.

Elton John had voiced worries about Billy Joel’s drinking habits, only for them to be brushed off as being judgmental.

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2025-07-24 02:53

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