Elton John ‘Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour’ Earns $939 Million In Revenue, Becoming The Highest-Grossing Tour In History

Elton John’s farewell tour, which launched in 2018, was extensive as it saw him performing 330 concerts across the globe.

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Melinda Lorge

Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

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Posted on July 26, 2023

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Elton John, Photo by Andrew Wendowski

Elton John closed a 50-year chapter of touring on a high note, but that doesn’t mean his final show wasn’t an emotional one. The 76-year-old Rocket Man wrapped up his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in Stockholm, Sweden, at the Tele2 Arena on Saturday (July 8) night, playing for a crowd of thousands, waving them goodbye as he rode off into the sunset as his final salute. 

A video on Facebook posted by John’s significant other and manager, David Furnish, shows the moment in which the music icon concludes his tour. Furnish and his famous partner’s two young boys, Zachary and Elijah, appear with their backs facing the camera as they support their pop star father from the side stage.

Elton John’s Husband David And Kids Wave Goodbye

“And off he goes … .one final trip down the Yellow Brick Road. 330 shows under his belt. Finally, off the road and into the sunset. So excited for the next chapter together,” the caption reads alongside the post. “We love you, Daddy.” 

Performed 330 Concerts On The Extensive Trek

As shared in the post, John’s tour, which launched in 2018, was extensive as it saw him performing 330 concerts across the globe.

The long-running trek had the British singer performing over 20 songs, including big hits like “Tiny Dancer,” “Bennie And The Jets,” “Cold Heart,” “Candle in the Wind,” and many more. Reflecting on his run as well as his last tour stop, John said his final performance was nothing short of “magical” and added that he’s still processing the trek officially coming to a close after seeing how much his fans have supported him throughout the years. 

“When we set off on my final tour in 2018, I couldn’t have foreseen in my wildest dreams the twists and turns and the highs and lows this tour – and the whole world – would have experienced in the next five years,” John said in a statement. “And every step of the way, my fans have been there. They have stuck with me, they have supported me, they have been patient, and they have kept turning out for every single last show. Tonight has been magical. I’m trying to process it, and I don’t think it will sink in for a while yet that I’m finally finished touring. I can’t tell you how much I’m going to miss the fans and how much their support has humbled me – it will stay with me forever.”

Elton John at 2020 Oscars; Photo Courtesy of Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Photo Courtesy of Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Highlight Of Elton John’s Final Tour Date

One of the highlights on John’s last stop included a video from Coldplay that popped up via satellite.

In the Instagrammed clip shown below, lead singer Chris Martin honors John by showering him with praise saying, “From all the bands and all the artists that you loved and inspired and helped, we just love you so much. We’re so grateful for everything you’ve done for us, everything you’ve done for the AIDS Foundation, anytime you’ve been kind to anybody, everything you’ve done for LGBTQ, everything you’ve done for fashion and eyewear, everything you’ve done for sexiness and love and dressing gowns … we love you so much. And we’re going to miss you so much.”

John’s trek was initially outlined as a three-year farewell according to American Songwriter, as he announced plans to retire from the road in January of 2018. But due to the World Health Crisis of 2020, two years were added onto the trek. Following his final performance, numbers were calculated, and John marked a strong and record-setting run. 

Highest-Grossing Tour In History

According to Billboard Boxscore, over the five years of touring, the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour brought in a staggering $939.1 million and has sold 6 million tickets, making it the highest-grossing tour in history to date. 

Despite that feat, John, who is well on his way to becoming an EGOT, having recently scored an Emmy nomination for Best Variety Special (Live) for his Elton John Live: Farewell From Dodgers Stadium Special, still plans on delivering live one-off performances in the future. 

His spouse Furnish confirmed that with Billboard, saying, “It’s really important to make a distinction between Elton retiring from touring but Elton not playing his very last public performance for the very last time. I know for a fact he will not be touring in any capacity. What you’re going to see is the possibility of a special one-off or a small residency in one venue for a limited period of time.”

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Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Music Mayhem, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.

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