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Elton John has revealed a unique way of preserving a part of himself fit for the legendary musician he his — by turning his surgically removed kneecaps into jewelry.
The "Goodbye Yellow Brick Road" singer underwent a double knee replacement in 2024 and ended up with a pair of one-of-a-kind souvenirs, per The Independent. In his new documentary short Touched By Gold, John shared that he asked his surgeon if he could keep his kneecaps after the procedure, which he said surprised the medical professional, E! News reports.
"My surgeon said I had the worst knees he’s ever operated on," John added, noting that his kneecaps looked like ancient artifacts.
After undergoing surgery to remove both kneecaps, John enlisted the help of jewelry designer Theo Fennell to transform the bones into a necklace and a brooch. He even wore the necklace at the premiere of his biopic Never Too Late at the BFI London Film Festival in October 2024.
Fennell explained that he "baked" the kneecaps to "dry them out," making them easier to work with. The necklace features a chain made from bones, with a pendant inscribed with a Latin phrase translating to "I will no longer bow to any man." The left kneecap was turned into a brooch.
"I honestly think these are timeless pieces that will last for centuries," John said.
At 78, the "Rocket Man" hitmaker has been open about his health challenges, stating last year, "To be honest with you, there's not much of me left." Despite his health issues, John remains grateful to his family and fans for their support.