Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, are parents to sons Zachary and Elijah.The couple welcomed their first child, Zachary Jackson, via surrogate in 2010.Their second son, Elijah Joseph, arrived in 2013 via the same surrogate.

Elton John and husband David Furnish are all about family. 

The longtime couple share two kids: Zachary, born in 2010, and Elijah, born in 2013. Both children were welcomed via the same surrogate. Shortly after Zachary arrived, John opened up to eTalk about the joys of fatherhood, calling it “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.’ You can’t put into words how much love we have for this little boy,” he added.

When the “Rocket Man” singer turned 75 in 2022, he penned a moving letter to his and Furnish’s sons in Time magazine, sharing life lessons and his hopes for the future. “Zachary and Elijah, you two are the greatest gifts I have ever been given,” John wrote. “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,” he continued.

Elton John (right) with husband David Furnish and their two children in September 2014.

Dave Benett/Elton John AIDS Foundation/WireImage

In the 2024 documentary Elton John: Never Too Late, the 78-year-old music legend shared that his kids “worry about [his] mortality.” Per People, he explained that his sons “love their daddy, so they want me to be around forever, [and] I would love to be around forever.” 

Yet, knowing he may not be around for all of his children’s milestones down the road, John is set on making the most of the time they have. “Time together is so wonderful and so precious,” he shared in the film, which was co-directed by Furnish.

Below, here’s everything to know about Elton John and David Furnish’s kids.

Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John

Zachary Furnish-John (L) and his brother Elijah on March 2, 2025.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Elton John AIDS Foundation

John and Furnish’s first son was a Christmas baby. Zachary Jackson Levon was delivered via surrogate on December 25, 2010. “We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment,” the couple said in a statement. Zachary and younger brother Elijah both have the same godmother: Lady Gaga, who, John shared on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, used to come and sing them to bed when they were babies.

Ahead of Zachary’s arrival, Furnish told People the couple were waiting to welcome children until John had finished touring. “We don’t want to put the raising of children into the hands of nannies and housekeepers,” he explained.

At just 7 years old, Zachary and his younger brother Elijah saw John perform on stage for the first time. The “Tiny Dancer” singer recalled the moment in his 2022 Time magazine essay marking his 75th birthday. “We were in Las Vegas in 2018, and your Papa [Furnish] brought you to the show. You were amazed by it all, the lights and the costumes and the crowd. Afterward, you both said: ‘I didn’t know Daddy could do that.’ ”

Elton John performing at the 92nd Annual Academy Awards in February 2020.

Kevin Winter/Getty Images

The same year he wrote that letter to his sons, he told E! News he’d encourage his kids if they happened to follow in his footsteps as musicians. “They are still so young, so not entirely sure,” he said. “But of course, whatever their dreams and ambitions are, my husband, David, and I will fully support them.”

While John and Furnish’s sons are enjoying their childhood out of the public eye, they made a rare appearance at the Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards Viewing Party in March 2025. Zachary wore a black suit and shirt, accessorized with a cross necklace.

They previously attended the event in 2022, posing alongside dad Furnish and their godmother, Lady Gaga, on the carpet. Furnish made an Instagram post about the glamorous night out featuring a photo of the quartet, writing in the caption, “So excited to be at #EJAFOscars night with the boys, Gagamother, and all of our incredible friends!!”

Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John

John and Furnish welcomed their second son, Elijah Joseph Daniel, on January 11, 2013. Elijah was delivered via the same surrogate as his older brother, Zachary, with John calling her “part of our family” in a People interview at the time of his second child’s arrival.

(L-R) David Furnish, sons Zachary and Elijah Furnish-John, and Lady Gaga in March 2022.

Brian Feinzimer/Variety/Penske Media via Getty Images

“We were excited at the prospect of Elijah’s birth as we were at the prospect of Zachary’s—but much less nervous,” the music icon told the outlet. 

In the same interview, Furnish explained that the couple were preparing albums around Elijah’s birth story. “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,” the former advertising executive said. “We want the boys to understand the spirit and love that was at the heart of the process,” he continued.

When Elijah turned 11 in 2024, Furnish took to Instagram to share a sweet tribute to his younger son from himself and John. “Happy Birthday to our beautiful son Elijah. Can’t believe you’re 11! You fill our hearts with so much love and laughter. We love you,” he wrote in the caption, signing off, “Papa and Daddy xo.”

Along with his older brother, Elijah has attended several of John’s legendary Oscar viewing parties. The siblings made an early appearance at the event in 2015, matching Furnish in black tuxedos, while John stood out in a light blue suit.

David Furnish (L), Elton John, and their sons Zachary and Elijah in February 2015.

Michael Kovac/Getty Images for EJAF

While John doesn’t frequently post about his children on social media, he’s shared a few pictures of them over the years. In 2021, he posted a family photo to Instagram of the quartet twinning in custom Versace robes with their names written across the backs in gold lettering. The same year, the Who Believes in Angels? singer shared a photo of himself and his sons watching the UEFA Euro 2020 soccer game on TV.

In a 2025 interview with The Times, John opened up about the severe eye infection that left him with “only limited vision in one eye” the year before. “I can’t read. I can’t see my boys playing rugby and soccer, and it has been a very stressful time because I’m used to soaking it all up. It’s distressing,” he said. 

Still, he expressed gratitude for being able to continue making memories with his husband and their sons in spite of his illness. “You get emotional, but you have to get used to it because I’m lucky to have the life I have,” John told the outlet, adding, “I still have my wonderful family, and I can still see something out of here.”