Sir Elton Turns 60

Musician Elton John appears on stage as confetti falls during his concert in New York's Madison Square Garden, Sunday, March 25, 2007. A banner was raised to celebrate John's 60th birthday and a record breaking 60th concert for the artist in the Garden.

Musician Elton John, left to right, listens as Whoopi Goldberg, song writer Bernie Taupin, and comedian Robin Williams, pay tribute to him on stage during John's concert in New York's Madison Square Garden, Sunday, March 25, 2007. The group was on hand to celebrate John's 60th birthday and a record breaking 60th concert for the artist in the Garden.

British singer/songwriter Sir Elton John performs with his band at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., Thursday, Mar. 22, 2007. John will turn 60 on Sunday, Mar. 25, 2007 and big birthday celebration is scheduled during his concert at Madison Sq — AP Photo/Robert E. Klein

British singer/songwriter Sir Elton John performs with his band at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on March 22, 2007. John will turn 60 on March 25, and a big birthday celebration is scheduled during his concert at Madison Square Garden in New York.

British singer/songwriter Sir Elton John performs with his band at the Dunkin Donuts Center in Providence, R.I., on March 22, 2007. Leading up to his 60th birthday on March 25, John has spoken out against homophobia and announced the upcoming availability of his back catalogue for digital download later in the month.

Sir Elton John arrives at Sudeley Castle in Winchcombe, England, the venue of the marriage of his friend, actress and model Liz Hurley, to Indian businessman Arun Nayer on March 3, 2007. John, godfather of Hurley's son, Damian Charles, is godfather to 10 children, including Sean Ono Lennon and David and Victoria Beckham's son Brooklyn.

Sir Elton John arrives at the 15th Annual Elton John AIDS Foundation Academy Awards viewing party held at the Pacific Design Center in West Hollywood, Calif., on Feb. 25, 2007. The benefit raised $4.2 million for the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Sir Elton John attends the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style awards held at Beverly Hills City Hall on Feb. 8, 2007. He was born Reginald Kenneth Dwight Pinner in Middlesex, a London suburb, on March 25, 1947. He later legally changed his name to Elton Hercules John.

Sir Elton John, right, and his partner, David Furnish, arrive at the party following Matt Lucas and Kevin McGee's civil partnership ceremony at Banqueting House in London on Dec. 17, 2006. John, who turns 60 on March 25, 2007, tied the knot with Furnish in a civil ceremony on Dec. 21, 2005.

Simon Cowell, Sir Elton John, Liam Mower, Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh appear on stage for the curtain call of the charity gala performance of "Billy Elliott: The Musical" in aid of the Easington branch of children's charity The Place2Be at Victoria Palace Theatre In London on Nov. 22, 2006.

Sir Elton John, right, and his longtime partner David Furnish, wave to members of the public after their civil partnership ceremony at the Guildhall in Windsor, England, on Dec. 21, 2005. John and Furnish were the most prominent of hundreds of same-sex couples planning to form civil partnerships in England and Wales on the first day such ceremonies become possible.

Singer-songwriter Sir Elton John testifies on April 11, 2002, before the U.S. Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions at a hearing called "Capacity to Care: In a World Living with AIDS." He called on Congress to allocate more money for AIDS prevention and treatment.

Openly gay pop star Sir Elton John stirred up controversy by performing a duet with rapper Eminem, whose lyrics have been attacked as homophobic, at the 43rd Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on Feb, 21, 2001.

Sir Elton John and Elizabeth Taylor at "The Concert...20 Years With AIDS" in Los Angeles to benefit the Elton John AIDS Foundation and APLA, Dec. 12, 2001. John has long been associated with AIDS charities after the deaths of his friends Ryan White and Freddie Mercury. He has raised large amounts of money and used his public profile to raise awareness of the disease.

Sir Elton John, left, kisses singer Tony Bennett during a ceremony honoring John with the MusiCares Person of the Year Award, Feb. 21, 2000, in Los Angeles. Other honors bestowed on John include being knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1998 and induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1984. In 2004, he was a Kennedy Center honoree.

Sir Elton John joined Kenny, Stan, Kyle and Cartman in a 1998 episode of the cartoon TV show "South Park." John announced on March 21, 2007, that he will make his more than 30 albums available for digital download and would also release some of his singles as cell phone ringtones. He celebrates his 60th birthday on March 25 and will release a new compilation album, "Rocket Man," on March 29.

In 1997, musician Elton John celebrated his 50th birthday costumed as Louis XIV at a lavish bash for 500 friends. Later that year he lost two close friends, designer Gianni Versace and Diana, Princess of Wales. A version of "Candle in the Wind" that John prformed at Diana's funeral was recorded and became the fastest-selling single of all time, eventually selling more than 30 million copies.

Archpriest Magio, right, shakes hands with British rock star Sir Elton John standing next to Princess Diana, left, during the requiem Mass for Italian fashion designer Gianni Versace at the Duomo in Milan, Italy, on July 22, 1997. Versace was gunned down in Miami Beach July 15. Diana was killed in a car crash in Paris just over a month later.

British singer and songwriter Sir Elton John, left, poses with Tim Rice at the 67th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 27, 1995. John and Rice won Oscars for their original song, "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" from the film "The Lion King." They also teamed up for the Broadway productions of "The Lion King" and "Aida."

Elton John kisses his bride, Renate Blauel, following their 1984 Valentine's Day wedding at St. Mark's Church in Australia. At the time, John said he was bisexual. The couple divorced four years later. John later renounced his bisexuality and came out as homosexual.

Elton John performs on stage in England on Jan 1, 1980. He started playing the piano at age 4. At 11, he entered the Royal Academy of Music, but quit just before graduation to pursue a rock career. Good move. With more than 50 Top 40 hits, he's one of the most successful musicians of all time.