elton john (10 posts)

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Ticket holders for Elton John's Red Piano Tour will have to have to wait a little longer to see the Grammy winner tickle his famed ivories. 

The 62-year-old "Rocket Man" crooner was forced to cancel several concerts in the U.K. and Ireland and postpone three stateside gigs after he was doubly hit with an E-coli bacterial infection and the flu (the normal, not swine, variety) last week. 

John's doctor advised him to postpone dates in Seattle and Portland scheduled for early November to allow for more recovery time, according to a statement on the singer's official website. 

"Promoter Live Nation, The KeyArena and The Rose Garden were informed by management that Elton has been advised by his doctor to postpone these performances due to a serious case of E-coli bacterial infection and influenza," the statement said.

Sir Elton is being treated at King Edward VII hospital in Marylebone London, according to the Daily Mail. The veteran performer was taken there Friday after his condition worsened and he was forced to cancel another performance in Dublin. 

John's spokesman said Friday the singer was "bitterly disappointed not to [play] Dublin. He had picked Dublin to close the Red Piano worldwide, because of the great warmth of the people and the great concerts he had in the city over many years. He is hoping to reschedule the dates in the very near future." 

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Going through candy withdrawals? Check out the sweet pics in our Famous Festive Fiends gallery.

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Decorated music man Elton John might be expanding his brood.

The "Your Song" singer visited Ukraine with his AIDS Foundation on Saturday and found himself taken by a 14-month old boy who lost his parents to the disease.

"David [Furnish] always wanted to adopt a child and I always said no because I am 62 and I think because of the traveling I do and the life I have...wouldn't be fair for the child," John said of his longtime parnter, who was along for the trip.

So why now? "Having seen Lev today, I would love to adopt him. I don't know how we do that but he has stolen my heart. And he has stolen David's heart and it would be wonderful if we can have a home. I've changed my mind today," John lovingly exclaimed.

This new outlook can also be attributed to the recent loss of John's close friend and keyboardist, Guy Babylon.

"It broke my heart because he was such a genius and so young and has two wonderful children," continued the showman. "What better opportunity to replace someone I lost than to replace him with someone I can give a future to."

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Elton's generosity is moving. See other celebs who give in our Do-Gooder gallery.

Courtesy: Joan Marcus

If you thought all the stars singing and dancing at the Oscars was impressive, wait until you see the star power in tonight's Tony opener.

Pretty much all we can tell you is that Anne Hathaway, who opened the movie awards show with Hugh Jackman in February, will be sitting up close and personal at Radio City Music Hall as she's shown how it's done.

We know. We saw the dress rehearsal.

Here's what else we know...

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Jo Hale/Getty Images

Elton John's Red Piano is going black.

The erstwhile Rocket Man has announced plans to close his long-running Las Vegas revue, taking his final curtain call on the Strip on April 22.

Tickets for the final run of shows will go on sale tomorrow.

John kicked off his Sin City residency back on Feb. 14, 2004 and while he initially only signed on for 75 performances, popular demand led to an extension of his original 18-month run. His April 22 bow out will mark his 241st time taking to the stage at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.

"Caesars Palace has been honored for the past five years to host one of the world's most beloved performers, Elton John," resort president Gary Selesner said.

"Caesars Palace has a long history of memorable entertainment, and Elton John is an icon in the music industry with international stature as not only a performer but also a gifted songwriter. We are grateful to Elton and his talented band for bringing so many memorable performances to Caesars Palace."

Not that his departure means a lack of star power on Caesars' marquee. John's show alternates with those of fellow headliners Cher and Bette Midler, who will continue their runs.

Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images; Ash Knotek/ZUMAPress.com

She may have had nothing but vitriol for cohost Elton John, but at Tuesday night's London-set GQ Men of the Year Awards, Lily Allen did have some kind words reserved for one British icon: the bobbies.

Before berating the Rocket Man onstage—and, as it were, before dispatching plenty  of complimentary tipple—the 23-year-old "Smile" singer had nothing but praise for the London Metropolitan Police, thanking them publicly for rescuing a friend who had recently been abducted at gunpoint.

"My friend Charlie was kidnapped a few weeks ago and was kept in a car boot for six days without food or anything," she told reporters on her way into the show. "It was really scary."

Scarier even than going head-to-head with a cantankerous knighted pop star, if you can believe it.

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Ben & Jerry's, Jamie McCarthy/WireImage.com

The Rocket Man just hooked up with the ice cream guys.

Elton John has joined the rarified and rather delicious ranks of Stephen Colbert, Jerry Garcia, Monty Python, Dave Matthews and Phish, becoming the latest celebrity inspiration for a Ben & Jerry's ice cream flavor: Goodbye Yellow Brickle Road

The limited-edition treat will be rolled out for one week only later this month to coincide with John's first concert in the pint purveyors' home base of Vermont, the last state in the U.S. the Brit rock star has yet to perform in.

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