Elton John’s Greatest Regret About Marrying Ex-Wife Renate Blauel

Rock’s roots as a genre originated from a simple notion: freedom. That very fact fascinated different generations from the early 60s to nowadays, as from punk rock to pop-rock, the genre gave people the freedom to express themselves, find their unique identities, and discover their inner passions.

One might argue that rock and roll is all about being genuine on stage since different frontpeople, from Robert Plant to Freddie Mercury, shaped the notion of how a model rocker should be. They didn’t hesitate to get real in front of large crowds, living the moment while performing, interacting, and showing the audience that they had the freedom to express their feelings in whatever way they wished.

That’s, perhaps, what made rock so popular and, if we’re talking about successful performers, one surely needs to mention Elton John, as anyone might easily appreciate the rocker for being an avid performer during his lavish stage shows. John never holds back when pouring his genuine emotions on stage or while recording a piece at the studio, and that’s what makes him so iconic.

However, for a rocker so genuine and who never held back on stage, Elton had concerning struggles when it came to his personal life, as his mind was filled with worried thoughts and denials. None of it was his own fault, however, since society had its harsh prejudices regarding the LGBTQ+ community, and it wasn’t easy for anyone to come out and embrace their genuine feelings about their sexuality.

So, as John struggled with his inner thoughts and gave his own battle surrounded by denials, he met a German sound engineer, Renate Blauel, in 1983. The pair quickly became close friends, and soon enough, Elton proposed only a short while after the couple met. Undoubtedly, the rocker’s feelings were genuine for Baluel, who he loved deeply… simply as a friend.

The couple married in 1984 while John toured Australia, and for the curious eyes of the public, all seemed well. However, that didn’t stop that cheerful couple who left their ceremony hand in hand from divorcing four years later in 1988. The divorce came after Elton’s wish to be as genuine as he felt on stage, and soon enough, he decided to come out publicly in the same year.

Years later, he met film producer David Furnish; the rest was history. The couple started dating, then married and became the fathers of two wonderful children. Still, it seemed that a sense of guilt and regret about Blauel followed John into his later life, and he decided to get candid about his greatest regret about marrying Renate.

The rocker confessed while he advocated for Australians’ rights to same-sex marriage on Instagram in 2017, as he recalled the details of his first marriage. John discussed that his greatest regret was causing Blauel so much sadness for denying who he truly was and marrying her while not embracing his true identity.

Elton’s words on his greatest regret for Renate:

I’m so excited to be back in Australia for a series of shows. Many years ago, I chose Australia for my wedding to a wonderful woman for whom I have so much love and admiration. I wanted more than anything to be a good husband, but I denied who I really was, which caused my wife sadness, and caused me huge guilt and regret

To be worthy of someone’s love, you have to be brave enough and clear-eyed enough, to be honest with yourself and your partner. Almost 24 years ago, I met the person with whom I could be fully myself. When we married in 2014, it felt like that fact was accepted by the world.

For David and I, being able to openly love and commit to one another and for that to be recognized and celebrated is what makes life truly worth living. That acceptance and support makes us want to be as kind, responsible, and productive members of society, as well as the best parents that we can be.

I love Australia. I love its spirit, its lack of pretense, its passion. I hope it can embrace the honesty and courage that seeks gay marriage as an expression not of desire but of love.”

So for a prominent rock hero like John, it surely fits his musical roots to come out and accept who he was against all the prejudices he surely had from society. When it came to love, however, Elton believed one needed to be brave and not hold back, and that’s the same spirit that originated the roots of rock music, allowing rockers to express their feelings freely through music.