Elton John, at the age of 77, has given much thought to how he wishes to be remembered. In an interview with TIME as their Icon of the Year, he revealed that on his gravestone, he simply wants it to say, "He was a great dad." Alongside his husband David Furnish, he shared this sentiment. The couple, who have been together for over three decades and have two sons, Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11, hold family close to their hearts.

Music and Career vs. Family

John emphasized that while his music and career have been fantastic, with a mind-blowing and groundbreaking impact, the most important thing to him is his family. In an interview with Good Morning America's Robin Roberts, he stated, "My music speaks for itself. My legacy is that I was a great husband and an even better father. The music is great, but making sure my children are happy and have a wonderful life is what truly matters."The family's presence on stage during John's final performance at Los Angeles' Dodger Stadium in 2022 was a deliberate move. As Furnish told GMA, "Elton wanted the world to really see and feel why he made the decision to stop touring."In November, while promoting Tammy Faye on Broadway on Radio Andy, John spoke about becoming a father later in life and called it "the greatest thing I've ever done." He said, "For me personally, I've had an amazing life with great career achievements, but our sons and David are the most important things to me."

Dealing with Mortality

John is aware of his advanced age compared to most parents with young kids. In the new documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, based on his life, he detailed how his two children express fears about his death. In the film that premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier this year, he said, "They think about my mortality. They worry about my mortality."In their joint interview with TIME, Furnish also explained why they chose not to homeschool their sons. He said, "We deliberately didn't homeschool our children because we want them to be their own people and to define life as they want to be defined."John's story shows the importance he places on family and how it shapes his life and legacy. His music will continue to be remembered, but his role as a father and husband is what truly defines him.