Exploring the Lives of Elton John and David Furnish's Two Children: Zachary
- Celebrity
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- UPDATED MAY 13, 2024
by Tasha Mayberry
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Elton John, a five-time Grammy winner, and his husband, David Furnish, celebrate being parents to two sons. The beloved “Rocket Man” singer and the former advertising executive, together for thirty years, first embraced fatherhood with the arrival of their elder son, Zachary, 13, in 2010, through a surrogate. Their second son, Elijah, 11, expanded their family in 2013, also born via the same surrogate. The couple tied the knot in Windsor, England, in 2014, when same-sex marriage was legalized in the U.K., with Zachary and Elijah playing the role of ring bearers. The night before their wedding, John shared on Instagram, “Our little ring bearers are fast asleep, and their shoes are polished and ready for tomorrow’s celebration.” In a 2016 interview on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, John expressed his profound joy, stating, “These two children have come along at a time I never thought I’d have children,” and emphasized, “There are no words to describe how much we love these boys. They’re just amazing.
Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John, 13
John and Furnish celebrated the birth of Zachary Jackson Levon on December 25, 2010, in California. “We are overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment,” they announced. “Zachary is healthy and doing really well, and we are very proud and happy parents.” Reflecting on fatherhood in 2011, John told Canada’s eTalk, “This is the best decision we’ve made,” and shared that Zachary is a passionate soccer fan. He often attends Watford FC games with John, as seen in a 2018 photo of them cheering from the stands. Regarding their sons’ future, John affirmed to E! News, “Whatever their dreams and ambitions, we will fully support them.
Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John, 11
Elijah Joseph Daniel was welcomed into the world on January 11, 2013, in Los Angeles, again via the same surrogate. “The reality that we now have two sons is almost unbelievable,” the couple expressed. “The birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way.” To cherish their birth stories, John and Furnish maintain scrapbooks for both sons, documenting all significant moments and interactions with the surrogate, as Furnish detailed. “We want the boys to understand the spirit and love that was at the heart of the process.
Elton John and David Furnish's Love Story Timeline
Elton John and David Furnish’s relationship began charmingly at a dinner party hosted by a mutual friend in 1993. They clicked instantly and went on their first date the very next day. In December 2005, they entered into a civil partnership and married in 2014 after the legalization of same-sex marriage in the U.K., with their sons Zachary and Elijah as ring bearers. Reflecting on his life changes, John remarked on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in 2016, “If you had told me 10 years ago I’d be married to the man I love with two beautiful children, I’d have thought you were joking.” Their journey from that first dinner to raising a family marks a full circle in their relationship timeline.
In an interview with Parade magazine, John shared how he and Furnish met. Living in Windsor, England, and wanting to broaden his social circle, John asked a London friend to organize a dinner party. Furnish, who attended with that friend, made an immediate impression. John admired Furnish’s independence, noting, “He had a real job, his own apartment, a car. I didn’t need to take care of him. I thought, ‘God, this is new territory for me — someone wants to be with me just because he likes me.’” Convinced of their special connection, Furnish returned the following evening for a more intimate date with Chinese takeout from Mr. Chow’s. John recalled that they “fell in love quickly,” marking the beginning of their enduring partnership.
