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Elton John has revealed that he had his old kneecaps turned into gold jewelry pieces.
In a short documentary called Touched by Gold, released by the World Gold Council on Monday, the legendary performer spoke about his love for the precious metal and how he often used the color in his stage outfits.
As part of the film, John recalled asking jeweler Theo Fennell to create custom gold jewellery using his bones after undergoing double knee replacement surgery in early 2024.
“When I had my kneecaps removed, first the left and then the right, I asked my surgeon if I could keep them, which left him quite surprised. Then I rang you,” he told Theo, explaining that he gave the designer permission to “do whatever you want with them.”
Fennell then described how his team handled the unusual request.
“We had to bake them to dry them out. Once they’re baked, they become like pumice stone, very porous. So we had to coat them with acetate and then polish them,” he said, before showing a gold and diamond pendant that had been crafted from one of the Rocket Man star’s kneecaps.
“That’s my right kneecap. That’s my right patella,” Elton, 78, pointed out. “My surgeon told me I had the worst knees he had ever operated on. That hole there was actually in my kneecap. It looks almost like something ancient from Egypt.”
He also revealed that the necklace bears an engraving in Latin reading, “I will no longer bow to any man.” Fennell joked in reply, “You can’t really do that with a kneecap missing.”
John then presented another piece, a small gold brooch, which had been made from his left kneecap.
“I honestly believe these are timeless works of art that will last for centuries,” he said.
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Paris Jackson says she shares a deeply personal and “beautiful” bond with her late father Michael Jackson, but no longer feels the need to publicly discuss it.
During an appearance on the Trying Not to Die podcast with Jack Osbourne on Tuesday, the singer and actress opened up about how her perspective on privacy has changed over the years since Michael’s death in 2009.
“There's definitely a certain element where I felt I had to share everything,” Paris explained. “And that has drastically changed in the last few years, because I don't really feel like any of us owe anyone anything.”
She went on to say that she no longer feels pressured to publicly express her love for her father in ways that people may expect, such as posting tributes on social media for his birthday or death anniversary.
“I'm now learning I can have my own personal relationship, and I'm allowed to be private about it and I'm now like, my relationship is the most beautiful relationship ever,” the 28 year old shared. “I'm in a very beautiful spot with my dad and I love that and it's no one's business and I don't have to share that with anybody. And there's a lot of freedom in that, which is really cool.”
Elsewhere in the conversation, Paris spoke about the values Michael instilled in her and her brothers, Prince, 29, and Bigi, 24, especially when it came to work ethic and responsibility.
“There was a lot about my upbringing that was silver spoon esque, but there was so much of it that had to be earned. Like there was very much a focus on developing a work ethic,” she said. “And so, I did see something recently where it's like, ‘You don't have to work,’ and it's like no, I do. I really do. Because I'm like a shark; if I stop moving, I'll die. It makes me happy to move and work and be productive. I need it for my wellbeing.”
Paris recently released her latest music project, Teenage Drama, earlier this month.
Her famous family has also remained in the spotlight following the release of the biographical film Michael, which stars her cousin Jaafar Jackson as the King of Pop. Paris had previously distanced herself from the project.
The musical biopic has become the second highest grossing movie of the year so far.
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