Elton John needs a hip replacement after suffering a fall and cancelling tour dates
SIR Elton John is to undergo hip replacement surgery this month after a nasty fall on holiday left him in “considerable pain and discomfort”.
I can reveal the Rocket Man singer was left with no choice but to have the invasive operation after increasing difficulties moving.
And it means his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour, which had been intended to end this year, has now been delayed once again, with UK dates pushed way back to 2023.
Keen not to pull out of charity commitments, Elton will hold off on having the surgery until after he has performed a five-song set at the Global Citizen Live show in Paris next weekend.
A source said: “Elton is naturally gutted by how things have panned out but his health has to come first.
“He will undergo an operation for a hip replacement in the coming weeks before beginning an extensive recovery plan.
“Luckily, his British Summer Time gig for next June — which sold out in record time — hasn’t been affected.
“But his UK winter dates this year have been pushed back by 17 months.
“It means he will be 76 by the time he wraps the tour.”
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Elton’s operation comes almost a year after fellow pop icon MADONNA underwent hip surgery.
He said of postponing his tour: “It breaks my heart to keep you waiting any longer.
“I completely feel your frustrations after the year we’ve had.
“I promise you this, the shows will return to the road next year and I will make sure they are more than worth the wait.”
Elton’s November UK shows are now set to take place in April 2023.
His woes come as his rival ROD STEWART announced a new album, ironically titled Tears Of Hercules — Hercules is Elton’s middle name.
At 76, Rod has promised the record, his 31st, is his best in years. It will be released on November 12.
Rod and Elton — who call each other Phyllis and Sharon — have exchanged lots of bitter words through the years, though many were said in jest.
In his autobiography, Elton admitted he has spent hours “deliberately trying to annoy him” though he added they have a love-hate relationship.
In 2018, Rod appeared on US TV and accused Elton of being “dishonest” with his 300-date farewell tour, telling the world he thought the idea “stinked of selling tickets”.
Elton hit back: “I thought he had a f***ing cheek, complaining about me promoting a tour while he was sat on a TV show promoting his own tour.”
Hopefully, Elton will be on the mend soon so these two can exchange catty words once more.
Lil Nas’s ‘baby’ due
LIL NAS X seemed determined to wind people up right until the last minute in the run-up to the release of his debut album today.
The Old Town Road singer, who has been wearing a prosthetic baby bump for the past few weeks, posted pics of a baby shower.
Then yesterday he shared a video of himself in a dressing gown and told his 10.6million Instagram followers: “I think the baby’s coming.”
The rapper, whose album Montero features DOJA CAT and MILEY CYRUS, also used billboards across the US to troll his haters.
A message on the posters cheekily directed complaints to his website with the message: “Do you hate Lil Nas X? You may be entitled to financial compensation.”
Nas also revealed he had a bad period of anxiety when he started out three years ago which ended when he found “found belief in the universe”.
He told Zane Lowe on Apple Music 1: “I was like, ‘Oh my God, I’m really not alone in this.’”
Nicki’s ballsy Piers rap
NICKI MINAJ has written a diss track about PIERS MORGAN after they clashed on Twitter over her bizarre claim that the Covid vaccine made a man’s testicles swell up.
The rapper said she has not had the jab – prompting Piers to accuse her of “peddling lies that will cost lives” by suggesting others should question having vaccinations.
The health minister of Trinidad, where the poor fella was supposed to live, has rubbished her story, which she said happened to a pal of her cousin.
But undeterred, Nicki has teased she will hit back at Piers with a song. She said: “I’m writing something really important about all of this. You know who I wrote a rap about? I wrote a rap about Piers yesterday. It’s so funny.”
But the pair might have more in common than they think, as they are both rallying against cancel culture.
Piers found himself on the receiving end of it following his comments on Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfey, which led to him leaving TV’s Good Morning Britain.
Now Nicki says she feels under attack on social media over her stance on vaccines – although Twitter bosses have denied her claim that they have suspended her account.
Nicki said on an Instagram live: “Twitter is place where people say the most horrific things every day.
“I will never go back on Twitter because it’s starting to feel a little scary.
“We have become that place that you can’t speak for the fear of the mob attacking you.
“If that doesn’t give you chills up and down your f***ing spine. . . This is scary.”
So are the lies she is peddling.
Drew and Cam keep it real
TWO of Hollywood’s biggest stars are showing the world you don’t need to pump your face with filler and botox to look beautiful over 40.
Charlie’s Angels actresses Drew Barrymoore and Cameron Diaz reunited in this snap and were praised for their natural faces.
Sharing the shot on Instagram, Drew wrote: “Bestie hour with my bestie poo poo!”
Since appearing in the crime-fighting film in 2000 and its 2003 sequel, Cameron and Drew have stayed close friends.
I think it’s great to see the duo taking a stand.
Roman’s gong joy
FRIEND of Bizarre Roman Kemp has once again proved himself one of the best broadcasters around, picking up two Tric Awards.
The Capital Breakfast host won the Radio Personality gong, beating Zoe Ball and Tony Blackburn, as well as the Radio Programme award for the third year running.
It’s well deserved for Roman, one of the most well-connected, respected and hard-working DJs on the airwaves.
Ro, who also hosted Wednesday’s ceremony, held annually by the Television and Radio Industries Club, said afterwards: “Amazing moment to walk away with two awards tonight. Thanks to everyone that voted.
“To get the opportunity to host the Tric Awards was fantastic, and to be on the winning side with our team three years in a row is special.”
Good for him.
Naomi royal duty
NAOMI Campbell is already fashion royalty, and now she is joining The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust as its global ambassador.
The charity, launched in 2018, invests in young leaders across the Commonwealth.
Naomi said: “This is something very close to my heart and I will continue to do everything I can to uplift the next generation so they can create a better future for their communities.”