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Elton John makes heartfelt speech to long-time friend Molly Meldrum

Sir Elton has expressed his love and admiration for Australian music legend Molly Meldrum. The pair’s friendship took a hit after an interview in 2012 aired off-the-record comments. Watch the speech

Elton John's final Australian tour

Sir Elton John paid tribute to his long-time friend Molly Meldrum last night, ending a seven-year feud between them.

“We’ve had tears, we’ve had laughter, but we’ve had a friendship that’s lasted so long,” Sir Elton said at his show at Rod Laver Arena.

“I don’t think anyone has done more for music in Australia than Molly Meldrum.

“Molly, I love you, I thank you dearly for everything you’ve done for me. Bless you.”

Meldrum, a guest at Sir Elton’s Farewell Yellow Brick Road show, acknowledged his superstar friend with a wave and a kiss.

Sir Elton John expresses thanks and love for Molly Meldrum’s friendship. Picture- Nicole Cleary
Sir Elton John expresses thanks and love for Molly Meldrum’s friendship. Picture- Nicole Cleary

Sir Elton froze Molly out of his life after Channel 7 broadcast off-the-record comments made during a 2012 interview with Meldrum.

Sir Elton refused to speak to Molly during his 2015 tour, but that didn’t stop Meldrum from desperately trying to fix the relationship.

“We’ve had the most amazing journey for a long, long time. We’ve both through the ups and we’ve been through the downs,” Molly told Channel 7’s Sunday Night earlier this year. “(But) a friendship like ours is worth keeping forever.”

Molly’s 2012 interview with the Rocket Man superstar included what they believed to be off-the-record banter, in which Sir Elton bagged Madonna as a “fairground stripper” and a “nightmare.”

In his 2016 book, Ah Well, Nobody’s Perfect, Molly said Elton’s candid remarks were “clearly a chat between two old friends and not intended for public broadcast.

“Elton still thinks it was all my fault, and refused to talk to me when he toured Australia in 2015,” Molly wrote.

“I’m tempted to quote a line from one of my favourite movies: ‘Frankly, my dear, I don’t give a damn.’ But the truth is, I do give a damn. I love Elton.”

Sir Elton is playing his fourth and final show at Rod Laver Arena on Sunday.

Limited tickets are still available.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/sir-elton-john-makes-heartfelt-speech-to-longtime-friend-molly-meldrum/news-story/4732bd926bcaa182b00c77942c1ec002