ELTON JOHN is battling through his health problems and has secretly finished work on his 32nd album.
I’m told the record is all done and has been handed over to his label.
It will be Sir Elton’s first release since 2021, when he dropped Regimental Sgt.
Zippo – recorded in the Sixties – and compilation album The Lockdown Sessions, which contained collaborations such as Cold Heart with Dua Lipa and tracks with Charlie Puth, Stevie Wonder, Gorillaz and Nicki Minaj.
A source said: “Elton has quietly been working on the album all year.
“The initial plan was for a Christmas release and to end the year on a high with the new album and his new documentary.
“But his health has meant things are up in the air.
“A few people are surprised that Elton has managed to complete it by the end of the summer, but now it has officially been handed in.”
This month the I’m Still Standing singer, inset, revealed he was struggling with an eye infection.
He said: “What happened with my eye has been very distressing as I am used to getting up in the morning and looking at all the newspapers and looking at the charts and seeing how the world is doing creatively.
“I’ve lost that. It’s been seven weeks since I’ve been able to see out of my right eye. But the prospect is good.
“I had a hell of a time. It was a hell of a bug that got into it.
And sometimes I feel forlorn but most of the time I’m still grateful . . . and I have to be patient.”