On this day, February 14, 1984, Elton John married German recording engineer Renate Blauel at Saint Mark’s Anglican Church in Darling Point, Sydney, Australia. The wedding, which took place on Valentine’s Day, was a high-profile event attended by close friends and industry figures.
Elton John and Blauel met in London in 1983 while she was working as an audio engineer on his Too Low for Zero album, which featured hits like I’m Still Standing and I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues. Their whirlwind romance led to a surprise engagement, with John proposing during a casual curry dinner at an Indian restaurant. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1988, with John later publicly coming out as gay and reflecting on his struggles with his identity during that period.
Despite their separation, Elton John and Renate Blauel remained on good terms, and in later years, he expressed gratitude for their time together. The marriage was briefly depicted in the 2019 biopic Rocketman, highlighting its emotional impact on his life.
80s insight: Elton John’s wedding was such a surprise that even close friends and bandmates were caught off guard by the sudden announcement.
Elton John and Blauel met in London in 1983 while she was working as an audio engineer on his Too Low for Zero album, which featured hits like I’m Still Standing and I Guess That’s Why They Call It the Blues. Their whirlwind romance led to a surprise engagement, with John proposing during a casual curry dinner at an Indian restaurant. However, their marriage ended in divorce in 1988, with John later publicly coming out as gay and reflecting on his struggles with his identity during that period.
Despite their separation, Elton John and Renate Blauel remained on good terms, and in later years, he expressed gratitude for their time together. The marriage was briefly depicted in the 2019 biopic Rocketman, highlighting its emotional impact on his life.
80s insight: Elton John’s wedding was such a surprise that even close friends and bandmates were caught off guard by the sudden announcement.
