(Credits: Far Out / George Michael)
Tue 14 April 2026 6:00, UK
Was George Michael lonely in his life? It’s difficult to say.
It does speak volumes about the fact that you can throw every ounce of glitz, glamour, luxury, and decadence towards someone and they can still feel somewhat unhappy. Ultimately, what is the meaning of rare art pieces, massive mansions, or another glass of the world’s most expensive champagne when you’re already sickened by the taste?
It’s a dilemma that many cultural icons have come up against, not least Michael, who also had to contend with exposing his sexuality in a world that was less than forgiving to that at the time. In those moments, it was easy for him to feel like he was fighting the battle of fame alone – but through the darkness, a great glittering angel came to tell him that they had been there, too.
That’s the magic of Elton John. He may be a global mega star, but the virtue of this is that he also happens to know every celebrity to have ever existed, so he was all too glad to help Michael out in his hour of need. As such, the ‘Careless Whisper’ singer came to consider the Rocketman perhaps his only famous friend.
“Probably one of the only celebrities I could say that I know well is Elton,” Michael once revealed, showing just how special their relationship truly was. But the thing was, being John’s friend came with strings attached. His famed parties, where the crème de la crème of the entertainment world would all mix, were the prime example of places where Michael would be seen, but never felt he fit in.
“I’m very nervous in situations like that,” Michael confessed, “because there is a kind of language that goes on between celebrities, and I’m not very good at it… I never feel that bond that they all obviously do, it’s fascinating.” Exposing that hint of vulnerability was certainly a bold thing to do, but it shows that even a global icon can’t always be the most confident person in the room.
Knowing anything about John’s life, you’d quickly realise that despite the glamorous pretences he puts up, there is a far more tender man underneath, and maybe that was part of the reason that he felt such a connection to Michael – they were kindred spirits in this foreign world of fame and fortune, and they were simply both trying to find their way.
To the legions of fans on the outside, they were an inimitable pair on the pop and rock landscape, who created one of the most iconic duets of all time in the form of ‘Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me’. Yet beneath the surface, it’s easier to see now that the bedrock of their relationship extended far beyond the frivolity of studios and sales.
Michael may never have felt that he had many friends in the celebrity realm, but then again, when he had John by his side, that probably compensated for a lot that he may have otherwise lost. Yes, the celebrity world may be full of sickening glitz and grandeur, but beneath the veneer, there are just ordinary people at heart, trying to make sense of it all.
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