All About Elton John and David Furnish's 2 Kids, Zachary and Elijah

Mar. 15, 2025

Photo:Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

Five-time Grammy winnerElton Johnand his husband, David Furnish, are the proud parents of two boys.The “Rocket Man” singer and the former advertising executive, who havebeen together for three decades, first became fathers when they welcomed their older son, Zachary, 14, in 2010 via surrogate. Son Elijah, 12, joined the family in 2013 via the same surrogate.During a 2016 appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show,the “Tiny Dancer” singer described his kids with Furnish as “the greatest thing in our lives.““If you’d had said to me 10 years ago I’d be sitting on your show married to the man I love and have two beautiful children I would have said, ‘You put acid in my drink.’ But life throws you challenges and life throws you curveballs — great curveballs — and these two children have come along at a time I never thought I’d have children,” he said. “There’s no words to describe how much we love these boys. They’re just amazing.”Stuart C. Wilson/GettyIn his documentaryElton John: Never Too Late, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2024, the singer shared that his sons have expressed worry about his morality.John said, they “love their daddy, sothey want me to be around forever, [and] I would love to be around forever,” before adding, “I want to see them have children and get married. I don’t think I’m going to be around for that … So that’s why I want to use the best of my time while I’m around. Time together is so wonderful and so precious.“Here’s everything to know about Elton John and David Furnish’s sons: Zachary and Elijah.Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, 14Michael Kovac/GettyJohn and Furnish welcomed their first son, Zachary Jackson Levon, who was delivered via surrogate, on Dec. 25, 2010, in California.“We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment,” the couple said in a statement. “Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents.”In a 2011 interview with Canada’seTalk,John called fatherhood “the best decision we’ve made.““We’re pretty happy anyway. We’ve been together 17 years, our careers are both going brilliantly. But this … everyone said, ‘You won’t believe what will happen to you,’ " he said of his life with Furnish, adding of their then-infant son: “You can’t put into words how much love we have for this little boy.”These days, Zachary is a huge soccer fan. He and John often attend the games of their favorite team, Watford FC, which John acted as the chair of from 1976 to 2002. In September 2018, he shared aphotoof the father-son duo cheering on the team from the stands. In the shot, Zachary is all smiles as he raises his arms above his head.As for whether or not he will pursue music like his famous dad, John toldE! Newsthat his sons are “still so young, so not entirely sure” but that he and Furnish will encourage it.“But of course, whatever their dreams and ambitions are, my husband David and Iwill fully support them,” he said.On his 75th birthday, Johnpenned a letter to his boysin which he shared life lessons and expressed his love for them.“Zachary and Elijah, you two are the greatest gifts I have ever been given,” he wrote in the letter published in TIME. “You have filled my heart with love and my life with purpose and meaning in ways I didn’t think were possible. You are my proudest achievements, and I love you both so, so much … Whoever you grow up to be, just be you — fully and completely you.”Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, 12Dave Benett/Elton John AIDS Foundation/WireImageOn Jan. 11, 2013, John and Furnishwelcomed their second son, Elijah Joseph Daniel, in Los Angeles via the same surrogate.“Both of us have longed to have children, but the reality that we now have two sons is almost unbelievable. The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way,” the couple said in a statement. “It is difficult to fully express how we are feeling at this time; we are just overwhelmed with happiness and excitement.”John and Furnish intend to be open with both their boys about their birth stories. “We kept a scrapbook for Zachary with all his scans, emails with the surrogate, and key moments from the surrogacy, and we are doing the same for Elijah,” Furnish explained to PEOPLE shortly after Elijah’s birth. “We want the boysto understand the spirit and love that was at the heart of the process.”Prior to becoming a father of two, John had been vocal about hisdesire to expand their family. In a 2012 interview withThe Guardian, the singer revealed that he and Furnish wanted more children, partly because he was an only child and partly because of his celebrity status.“I spent it [his childhood] in my room, listening to music if my parents were rowing. I think it’s difficult to be an only child, and to be an only child of someone famous,” he said. “I want [Zachary] to have a sibling so he has someone to be with. I know when he goes to school there’s going to be an awful lot of pressure, and I know he’s going to have people saying, ‘You don’t have a mummy.’ It’s going to happen. We talked about it before we had him. I want someone to be at his side and back him up. We shall see.“Like his brother, Elijah is also interested in soccer. In July 2021, John shared a photo of him and both his boyscheering on England’s national teamin the Euro 2020 game from their home.The boys are also quite fashionable. In August 2021, the entire Furnish-John familydonned matching custom Versace robeswith their first names printed on the back while on vacation in Nice, France.When Elijah turned 11, Furnish shared a photo of his birthday cake onInstagram, along with a sweet message. “Happy Birthdayto our beautiful son Elijah,” he wrote. “Can’t believe you’re 11! You fill our hearts with so much love and laughter. We love you. Papa and Daddy xo.”

Five-time Grammy winnerElton Johnand his husband, David Furnish, are the proud parents of two boys.

The “Rocket Man” singer and the former advertising executive, who havebeen together for three decades, first became fathers when they welcomed their older son, Zachary, 14, in 2010 via surrogate. Son Elijah, 12, joined the family in 2013 via the same surrogate.

During a 2016 appearance onThe Ellen DeGeneres Show,the “Tiny Dancer” singer described his kids with Furnish as “the greatest thing in our lives.”

“If you’d had said to me 10 years ago I’d be sitting on your show married to the man I love and have two beautiful children I would have said, ‘You put acid in my drink.’ But life throws you challenges and life throws you curveballs — great curveballs — and these two children have come along at a time I never thought I’d have children,” he said. “There’s no words to describe how much we love these boys. They’re just amazing.”

Stuart C. Wilson/Getty

In his documentaryElton John: Never Too Late, which premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in September 2024, the singer shared that his sons have expressed worry about his morality.

John said, they “love their daddy, sothey want me to be around forever, [and] I would love to be around forever,” before adding, “I want to see them have children and get married. I don’t think I’m going to be around for that … So that’s why I want to use the best of my time while I’m around. Time together is so wonderful and so precious.”

Here’s everything to know about Elton John and David Furnish’s sons: Zachary and Elijah.

Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, 14

John and Furnish welcomed their first son, Zachary Jackson Levon, who was delivered via surrogate, on Dec. 25, 2010, in California.

“We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment,” the couple said in a statement. “Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents.”

In a 2011 interview with Canada’seTalk,John called fatherhood “the best decision we’ve made.”

“We’re pretty happy anyway. We’ve been together 17 years, our careers are both going brilliantly. But this … everyone said, ‘You won’t believe what will happen to you,’ " he said of his life with Furnish, adding of their then-infant son: “You can’t put into words how much love we have for this little boy.”

These days, Zachary is a huge soccer fan. He and John often attend the games of their favorite team, Watford FC, which John acted as the chair of from 1976 to 2002. In September 2018, he shared aphotoof the father-son duo cheering on the team from the stands. In the shot, Zachary is all smiles as he raises his arms above his head.

As for whether or not he will pursue music like his famous dad, John toldE! Newsthat his sons are “still so young, so not entirely sure” but that he and Furnish will encourage it.

“But of course, whatever their dreams and ambitions are, my husband David and Iwill fully support them,” he said.

On his 75th birthday, Johnpenned a letter to his boysin which he shared life lessons and expressed his love for them.

“Zachary and Elijah, you two are the greatest gifts I have ever been given,” he wrote in the letter published in TIME. “You have filled my heart with love and my life with purpose and meaning in ways I didn’t think were possible. You are my proudest achievements, and I love you both so, so much … Whoever you grow up to be, just be you — fully and completely you.”

Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, 12

Dave Benett/Elton John AIDS Foundation/WireImage

On Jan. 11, 2013, John and Furnishwelcomed their second son, Elijah Joseph Daniel, in Los Angeles via the same surrogate.

“Both of us have longed to have children, but the reality that we now have two sons is almost unbelievable. The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way,” the couple said in a statement. “It is difficult to fully express how we are feeling at this time; we are just overwhelmed with happiness and excitement.”

John and Furnish intend to be open with both their boys about their birth stories. “We kept a scrapbook for Zachary with all his scans, emails with the surrogate, and key moments from the surrogacy, and we are doing the same for Elijah,” Furnish explained to PEOPLE shortly after Elijah’s birth. “We want the boysto understand the spirit and love that was at the heart of the process.”

Prior to becoming a father of two, John had been vocal about hisdesire to expand their family. In a 2012 interview withThe Guardian, the singer revealed that he and Furnish wanted more children, partly because he was an only child and partly because of his celebrity status.

“I spent it [his childhood] in my room, listening to music if my parents were rowing. I think it’s difficult to be an only child, and to be an only child of someone famous,” he said. “I want [Zachary] to have a sibling so he has someone to be with. I know when he goes to school there’s going to be an awful lot of pressure, and I know he’s going to have people saying, ‘You don’t have a mummy.’ It’s going to happen. We talked about it before we had him. I want someone to be at his side and back him up. We shall see.”

Like his brother, Elijah is also interested in soccer. In July 2021, John shared a photo of him and both his boyscheering on England’s national teamin the Euro 2020 game from their home.

The boys are also quite fashionable. In August 2021, the entire Furnish-John familydonned matching custom Versace robeswith their first names printed on the back while on vacation in Nice, France.

When Elijah turned 11, Furnish shared a photo of his birthday cake onInstagram, along with a sweet message. “Happy Birthdayto our beautiful son Elijah,” he wrote. “Can’t believe you’re 11! You fill our hearts with so much love and laughter. We love you. Papa and Daddy xo.”

source: people.com