Elton John has revealed what he wants engraved on his tombstone after turning 78 years-old on Tuesday. 

The legendary musician took to the stage for a one off show at the London Palladium on Wednesday night as he spoke about his legacy. 

However despite his plethora of hits, Elton confessed he doesn’t consider his musical achievements to be his greatest legacy, and instead is most proud of his children. 

The star shares sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12, with his husband David Furnish. 

And he admitted on his grave he would rather be remembered for being a good father as he told the audience: ”On my tombstone, I want nothing to do with Crocodile f***ing Rock. I just want it to say: “He was a great dad”.’

Ahead of his birthday, Elton told how he reflected on his own mortality while working on his new album Who Believes In Angels?, slated for release on April 4. 

Elton John has revealed the sweet message he wants engraved on his tombstone as the 78 year-old considered his mortality during his show in London on Wednesday (pictured in 2023) 

The music legend shared that he cried for 45 minutes while working on one of his new songs and began to fear he ‘doesn’t have much time left’.

Elton, who completed his farewell tour in 2023, previously shared he’s suffered from sight loss after an infection left him blind in his right eye and with ‘limited vision’ in his left.

Speaking on the Smartless podcast, Elton revealed his heart-wrenching reaction came when he was performing his new track When This Old World Is Done With Me.

He said: ‘I wrote a song at the end of the album and I just get the lyrics, Bernie Taupin’s lyrics called When This Old World Is Done With Me. And so I’m writing the verse, like, ”Oh, this is really pretty”.

‘And then I get to the chorus and of course it’s about my death. And when you get to my age, which is near 100, you think, ”How much time have I got left?”’

Elton admitted he became very emotional while thinking about his husband David Furnish and their two sons Zachary and Elijah.

He went on: ‘You’ve got children, you’ve got a wonderful husband, you just think about mortality. And so when I got to the chorus, I just broke down for 45 minutes and it’s all on film.’

Elton said he ‘cried hard’ while working on the album with musician Brandi, and his reaction was recorded in his documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, which was released in October.

Elton admitted on his grave he would rather be remembered for being a good father (pictured with  husband David Furnish and their two sons Zachary, 14, and Elijah, 12 earlier this month)

Ahead of his birthday, Elton told how he reflected on his own mortality while working on his new album Who Believes In Angels?, slated for release on April 4

Elton’s husband David led the celebrities in paying tribute to the music legend on his 78th birthday on Tuesday (pictured in January)  

Read More Elton John flooded with well wishes from celebrity pals as he celebrates his 78th birthday

Brandi continued: ‘I want everybody to see it because it’s really human, like deeply flawed and embarrᴀssing. 

‘And the kind of s**t that you do when you forget that there is a camera on is what’s really interesting.

‘He got to the end of that chorus and his voice started to shake and I thought, ‘Oh, he’s going, like he’s going to really go’. And he went into a real moment.’

Elton’s husband David led the celebrities in paying tribute to the music legend on his 78th birthday on Tuesday.

Leading the tributes David shared a pH๏τograph of Elton alongside a gushing message to his ‘big-hearted husband’.

He penned: ‘Happy Birthday to my brilliant, beautiful, big-hearted husband. Thank you for all the love and joy you give to me and our sons. Love you forever. David xoxo’