Elton John Talks Turning 70, His Happy Marriage and Being a Father: 'It's the Greatest Thing You'll Ever Know'

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Elton John
turns 70 on Saturday and the musical icon is opening up about his milestone birthday, his marriage and his two young children.

"Seventy sounds so archaic doesn't it?" John said in a recent interview with Beats 1 host Zane Lowe. "When I was growing up, 70 sounded like the end of the world. But things have changed, you’re only as old as you feel inside."

"As far as my inner self, I feel great," he added.


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One thing that has made his life better over the years has been his family. In 2014, John married his partner of nearly two decades, David Furnish, and the singer says their love "has grown stronger and stronger" and their marriage has gotten "better and better," through hard work and a love for their two sons -- 6-year-old Zachary and 4-year-old Elijah.

"It’s the greatest thing you’ll ever know," John said of being a father.


The "Rocket Man" singer
said he often hears people say they aren't interested in ever having children. "That’s fine," John said. "I would have said the same thing, until I had them."

"Then it was like ‘Wow this is it? Are you kidding me?'" he added. "If I was 15 years younger, I’d have two or three more. Without question."


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As his big day approaches, John admitted that he isn't afraid of the milestone, and that he's "always enjoyed" celebrating his birthdays through the years. And this year, he's going to be ringing in the big 7-0 with a huge party, that he's mostly been kept in the dark about.

"I just know that it’s a celebration of my 70th and the 50 years of partnership with [my collaborator Bernie Taupin]," John said. "It’s nice to celebrate things. Life is fabulous."

Proceeds from John's star-studded birthday bash will go to the Hammond Museum and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, which is also celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.


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