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Elton John's Nine Year Feud With His Mother Ends In Tragedy

Elton John has revealed that he has lost his beloved mother at the age of 92, just months after they healed their long rift.

The 70-year-old star had not spoken to his mother, Sheila Farebrother, for around nine years until the past May.

Sheila had been a constant support throughout her son's extraordinary career, until a rift tore their relationship apart.

Elton and his mother in 1976Daily Mail

The fallout happened in 2008 after she allegedly refused his request not to talk to two of their oldest friends.

She reportedly shared that her son had called out of the blue and asked her to cut off all contact with Bob Halley, Elton's driver turned personal assistant, whom he fired after more than 30 years of service. He also request she refrain from talking to John Reid, with who he had a falling out with.

"I told him: 'I'm not about to do that and drop them. Bob is like a son to me. He has always been marvellous to me and he lives nearby and keeps an eye on me,'" Sheila shared.

The response from her son shocked her.

"To my utter amazement, he told me he hated me. And he banged the phone down. Imagine! To me, his mother!" she said.

People

His mother also went on to say in 2015 that she believed that David Furnish attempted to take control of her son's life, at the expense of his old friends.

Sir Elton, with his mother and husband David Furnish after being knighted in 1998Daily Mail

She also claimed that Elton never told her when she became a grandmother to Elijah and Zachary, which sparked further fury to their relationship.

During their feud it was said that Elton continued to support Sheila financially, paying for her living accommodations.

On his mother's 90th birthday, in March 2015, Elton broke the silence between them for the first time in seven years, by sending Sheila white orchids.

From there they continued to work on their reconciliation until Elton properly confirmed it on Mother's Day this year.

"Dear Mum,Happy Mother's Day! So happy we are back in touch. Love,Elton xo," he wrote on Instagram in May.

After losing nine years together and just getting their relationship back, Elton was in shock to hear of his mother's passing.

Elton's father, Stanley, had been largely absent from his life, which is part of the reason he and his mother were so close.

"He never told me he loved me, he didn't hold me, and he didn't come to see me perform," Elton said.

His father, who passed away in 1991, did not support his singing career and instead wanted him to aspire to be a banker or civil servant.

"I've spent the rest of my life trying to prove to my father that I was a success. He's been dead [for] years and I'm still trying to prove the point," he said.

His rejection was felt further after his father remarried and had four children, who "he was so loving... in a way that he never was with me," according to Elton.

He said these feelings lead him to take cocaine and drink heavily, until becoming sober in his 40s.

Elton's mother and stepfather in 1961Daily Mail

Elton spoke very little publicly about the relationship with his mother.

"Out of respect for my mother's privacy, I have always shied away from speaking publicly about our relationship," he said of their reconciliation. "However, I can say that we are now back in touch and have been so since my mother's 90th birthday."

The star had just seen his mother a week prior to her death.

"So sad to say that my mother passed away this morning. I only saw her last Monday and I am in shock. Travel safe Mum. Thank-you for everything. I will miss you so much. Love, Elton," he shared on Instagram.

Sir Elton was performing in Barcelona just before his mother died in her home of West Sussex. It wasn't known whether she was ill or not.

Daily Mail

The performer has 12 upcoming shows in December, and as of now those dates have not been cancelled.

Source: Daily Mail / People

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