Elton John Was ‘Very Shut Down in Terms of Accepting Love’ When He Met Husband David Furnish

Mar. 15, 2025

Elton John and David Furnish in September 2024.Photo:Sonia Recchia/Getty

Sonia Recchia/Getty

Elton Johnstruggled to open himself up when he metDavid Furnish.In acover story interview withTIMEon Wednesday, Dec. 11, the filmmaker, 62, revealed John “was very shut down in terms of accepting love” when he first met him in 1993 at a dinner party through a mutual friend.“He was very, very shut down in terms of accepting love,” Furnish told the publication. “No one had ever asked him to do personal things like go for a walk together, those kind of joyful things.”David Furnish and Elton John in November 2023.Dave Benett/GettyThe “Rocket Man” performer also noted that his husband knows that his “fuse is very short.““The worst thing about my temper is that David is very rational about things and he’ll explain,” said John, 77. “And I’ll get even madder about it.“While he’s become calmer over the years, he admittedly still can get heated.“I will flare up if I’m tired, if I’m exhausted, if I’m overwhelmed,” said John. “I don’t like having that temperament, but it’s all usually done and dusted within five or 10 minutes.”However, his impatience has helped him succeed as a songwriter since he can move onto the next project if he can’t come up with music for his lyrics in an hour or so.“I know people think, ‘Oh, God, he doesn’t work that hard,’” he said. “But it’s really effortless. If I get a lyric and I look at it, the song comes straight out.“Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.David Furnish, Elijah Furnish-John, Zachary Furnish-John, and Sir Elton John attend the 23rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in February 2015.Michael Kovac/GettyAfter initially meeting at the aforementioned dinner party, John and Furnish went on their very first date the next day. The couple entered a civil partnership in December 2005 andofficially tied the knotnine years later once same-sex marriage became legal in the U.K.They share twosons Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11.In 2016, the “I’m Still Standing” artist spoke about how getting married and having kids surprised him onThe Ellen Degeneres Show:“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.”

Elton Johnstruggled to open himself up when he metDavid Furnish.

In acover story interview withTIMEon Wednesday, Dec. 11, the filmmaker, 62, revealed John “was very shut down in terms of accepting love” when he first met him in 1993 at a dinner party through a mutual friend.

“He was very, very shut down in terms of accepting love,” Furnish told the publication. “No one had ever asked him to do personal things like go for a walk together, those kind of joyful things.”

David Furnish and Elton John in November 2023.Dave Benett/Getty

Dave Benett/Getty

The “Rocket Man” performer also noted that his husband knows that his “fuse is very short.”

“The worst thing about my temper is that David is very rational about things and he’ll explain,” said John, 77. “And I’ll get even madder about it.”

While he’s become calmer over the years, he admittedly still can get heated.

“I will flare up if I’m tired, if I’m exhausted, if I’m overwhelmed,” said John. “I don’t like having that temperament, but it’s all usually done and dusted within five or 10 minutes.”

However, his impatience has helped him succeed as a songwriter since he can move onto the next project if he can’t come up with music for his lyrics in an hour or so.

“I know people think, ‘Oh, God, he doesn’t work that hard,’” he said. “But it’s really effortless. If I get a lyric and I look at it, the song comes straight out.”

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

David Furnish, Elijah Furnish-John, Zachary Furnish-John, and Sir Elton John attend the 23rd Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in February 2015.Michael Kovac/Getty

Michael Kovac/Getty

After initially meeting at the aforementioned dinner party, John and Furnish went on their very first date the next day. The couple entered a civil partnership in December 2005 andofficially tied the knotnine years later once same-sex marriage became legal in the U.K.

They share twosons Zachary, 13, and Elijah, 11.

In 2016, the “I’m Still Standing” artist spoke about how getting married and having kids surprised him onThe Ellen Degeneres Show:“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.”

source: people.com