Why is Elton John getting sentimental on Instagram? Music legend reflects on a rare moment of gratitude after a fan’s unforgettable act

Elton John got sentimental after a fan found and returned something "priceless" from a legendary period of his career. In his official Instagram account, the Rocket Man icon shared his appreciation for a fan who discovered the original acetates from the first recordings he did for his seventh studio album, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road.Alongside a photo of him and the fan and Vinyl Record Curator for Coachella and Record Safari owner in Los Angeles, Alex Rodriguez, and the said vinyl record, Elton John wrote:"Every so often, there are acts of kindness that remind you there are still a lot of good people in this world... Alex Rodriguez (@recordsafari), the Vinyl Record Curator for Coachella and owner of @recordsafari_la in Los Angeles, recently came across the original acetates from the first recordings of Goodbye Yellow Brick Road." View this post on Instagram Instagram PostAccording to the music icon's heartfelt post, the vinyl is still in beautiful condition in its original Trident Studios sleeves, which he considers "a real piece of history." And he said that instead of Rodriguez keeping them for himself or selling them, he reportedly reached out and offered to return the recordings personally. Elton John appreciated the gesture, adding:"While they'd be valuable to anyone, to me these recordings are truly priceless, and I am incredibly grateful for his kindness, generosity, and his love of music."He thanked Rodriguez in the caption, adding that it is a gesture that he will never forget.Elton John recently performed in front of 70,000 people during the Singapore Grand PrixElton John may have quit touring two years ago, but there is no question of whether the music icon can still attract large crowds. During the October 5 show for the Formula One race in Singapore, the Rocket Man singer played a 90-minute set in front of a packed crowd, delighting them with some of the biggest songs from his decades-long career.Elton John at the MFEI Spirit Of Life Honoring Jay Marciano (Image via Lester Cohen/Getty Images)He looked back on the F1 Singapore Grand Prix show experience on his Instagram with a clip from the event shortly after, writing:"Singapore, you were electric! What a feeling being with over 70,000 of you—thank you for being such an incredible crowd."The show was a success despite Elton John's health woes over the past year. According to the Straits Times, the English pop music icon was seen being physically assisted as he entered the stage and got situated to play the piano for the Singapore concert.The show came after the music icon wrapped up his Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in the summer of 2023 with a concert in Stockholm, Sweden. It also came after his health news in December 2024, revealing that he had lost vision completely in his right eye and partially in his left after suffering from a "severe eye infection."In an interview with the Times, per BBC in April 2025, he said that losing his eyesight has been "distressing" and has been "a very stressful time." He said that he hadn't "been able to see anything since last July," adding that he can't watch TV, read, or see his boy playing rugby or soccer.