Sir Elton Hercules John (born Reginald Kenneth Dwight; 25 March 1947) is an English singer, songwriter, pianist, and composer. Collaborating with lyricist Bernie Taupin since 1967 on more than 30 albums, John has sold more than 300 million records, making him one of the best-selling music artists. He has more than fifty Top 40 hits in the UK Singles Chart and US Billboard Hot 100, including seven number ones in the UK and nine in the US, as well as seven consecutive number-one albums in the US. His tribute single "Candle in the Wind 1997", rewritten in dedication to Diana, Princess of Wales, sold over 33 million copies worldwide and is the best-selling single in the history of the UK and US singles charts. He has also produced records and occasionally acted in films. John owned Watford F.C. from 1976 to 1987 and from 1997 to 2002. He is an honorary life president of the club.
Whitney’s ex-bodyguard tells all, from the time she lost a tooth onstage to her infamous “Mariah who?” moment
Protecting Whitney: The Memoir of Her Bodyguard, by David Roberts, offers insights into the rise and fall of one of our most beloved icons. “After spending so many years in angry contemplation, I found it cathartic to finally recall, relive, and recount my experiences, my life, as Whitney Houston’s bodyguard.
I am hoping that by sharing this story, you can get to know her more deeply and appreciate what we lost,” writes Roberts in the book’s preface.
Did he love her? Yes, but in a much more nuanced way than the 1992 film The Bodyguard portrays. Subscribe to our newsletter for your front-row seat to all things entertainment with a sprinkle of everything else queer.Houston’s life was filled with dramatic highs and lows, fueled by her insurmountable talent, a voracious entertainment industry that demanded more than any one person should be asked of, and toxic relationships that ultimately fueled her demise.
Initially hired for Houston’s security detail for the UK portion of her 1988 Moment of Truth world tour, Roberts (a former member of the Royal Air Force Police and sergeant at the Metropolitan Police at New Scotland Yard) would stay in Houston’s purview through 1995.
