Goodbye, yellow brick road.
Elton John has announced that remaining 2021 dates of his highly anticipated “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour have been postponed until 2023 — after fans learned the 74-year-old needs an urgent hip operation.
The “Rocket Man” shared that he “fell awkwardly” over the summer and has “been in considerable pain and discomfort” since then, despite physical therapy and the care of specialists.
“I have been advised to have an operation as soon as possible to get back to full fitness and make sure there are no long-term complications,” he wrote in a letterhead announcement, published on social media.
He also promised fans he’d be working hard to recover over the next several months to ensure his 2022 return for the US leg of his tour, which kicks-off in New Orleans on January 19. So far, only the European leg of his tour is being rescheduled.
“I will be undertaking a program of intensive physiotherapy that will ensure a full recovery and a return to full mobility without pain,” the message concluded.
Fans and friends are pouring in to offer the ageless icon their well wishes, including bestie Elizabeth Hurley, who offered a series of red hearts and tearful emojis on Instagram.
“Aww — rest up my friend — we will all wait for you as long as you need!” wrote singer Jewel.
The legendary pop star only recently added final dates to the tour, which would have launched later this year and taken him into March 2023. Pending recovery, the new schedule will now presumably stretch through to 2024 — as the Grammys Hall-of-Famer approaches his 77th year.
Some current “Farewell” ticket-holders have already waited more than a year to see John perform his final shows.
“5 years I will have had my ticket. #EltonJohn #getwellsoonelton,” wrote one such would-be concert-goer.