Elton John cuts concert short due to pneumonia, pledges tour will go on

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

The Rocketman says despite a health issue, the show will go on.

Elton John was performing Sunday in Auckland, New Zealand, but had to cut his show short at Mt. Smart Stadium because of walking pneumonia, CNN reported.

Walking pneumonia is a less severe version of pneumonia that is caused by different bacteria, according to CNN.

Symptoms of walking pneumonia are those of a chest cold including a sore throat, being tired, fever, a cough that gets worse and can last for weeks or months and a headache. Those suffering can also have fever and chills, shortness of breath and chest pain, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

John reached out to his fans on social media to explain why he was not able to continue belting out hits Sunday.

At one point while singing "Someone Saved My Life Tonight" John slumped and needed medical attention, but he continued the show until he tried to sing "Daniel" but had no voice left, The Associated Press and The New Zealand Herald reported.

Despite his illness, John, who is in the middle of his "Farewell Yellow Brick Road" tour, said he will be performing the rest of the shows scheduled for New Zealand and Australia, USA Today reported.

The tour is said to be his final one; he is reportedly retiring from live performances, telling Anderson Cooper that his priorities have changed.

He will still create new music but wants to focus on raising his two children.

"I can't physically do the traveling anymore," John told Cooper in 2018. "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."

The tour will continue this year, with the final dates at The O2 in London in mid-December.

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