Well, there’s no way around it – if you love music, like so many women in our community do, this has been a tough week!

First, Eric Clapton announced that he is going deaf. Then, we heard the tragic news that Jim Rodford of The Kinks and The Zombies passed away, at age 76. Next, Neil Diamond announced that he is dealing with Parkinson’s disease and can no longer tour.

Then, just when you thought this week couldn’t get any worse, Elton John announced that he too is quitting touring. Yikes!

If there is a silver lining in this last announcement and, trust me, after the week that we just had, we need a silver lining, it’s this: Elton John’s reasons for retiring from tour life are positive and healthy. He isn’t sick. He hasn’t lost his love of music. He just knows what really matters in life!

Elton John’s Reasons to Stop Touring May Surprise You

Specifically, the 71-year-old singer said that he has decided to stop touring in order to spend time with his family.

In his own words, he described the situation to Rolling Stone magazine. He said, “I’m 71. I can’t physically do the traveling anymore. I want to be at home. I really want to spend time with my children at home. I’ve had an incredible life, but life is all about change.”

As you may recall, Elton John has two young children, Zachary, aged 7 and Elijah, aged 5. As anyone who has been a parent can appreciate, this is a critical age range for kids and we completely understand his desire to spend time with his family.

More Good News: Elton John Isn’t Done with Music Yet!

According to the same Rolling Stone interview, Elton John plans to continue working on music, despite the fact that he will no longer tour. For an artist who has already produced 133 singles and had 57 top 40 hits, his commitment demonstrates just how much he loves music… and his fans!

We can’t wait to see what he produces next!

You can see Elton John’s farewell announcement in the following video. In it, he also announces that his final tour will be called the “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour.

Check it out and let us know what you think!

Are you an Elton John fan? What do you think of his decision to quit touring so that he can spent more time with his 5 and 7 year old children? Let’s have a chat!

Image source: eltonjohn.com