- The singer Elton John broke down in tears during a New Zealand concert on Sunday after he lost his voice due to walking pneumonia and was unable to sing.
- John cut the Auckland concert short, but apologized in an Instagram post later that day.
- John had told the crowd early in the concert that he was ill and his voice was "shot", but he was determined to put on a great show.
- "I played and sang my heart out, until my voice could sing no more. I'm disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had," he wrote.
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British singer-songwriter Elton John apologized to his fans in New Zealand late on Sunday after he lost his voice due to walking pneumonia and was forced to cut short a concert in Auckland.
John broke down in tears at Auckland's Mt Smart Stadium after he was unable to sing despite receiving medical attention.
He took to his Instagram page on Sunday night to apologize to fans who had turned up for the show.
"I want to thank everyone who attended tonight's gig in Auckland. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia earlier today, but I was determined to give you the best show humanly possible," he said in the post.
"I played and sang my heart out, until my voice could sing no more. I'm disappointed, deeply upset and sorry. I gave it all I had," he added.
The legendary singer, who won an Academy Award last week for best original song in his own biopic, "Rocketman," had to be assisted from the stage after attempting to launch into the song 'Daniel', the New Zealand Herald reported.
John had told the crowd early in the concert that he was ill and his voice was "shot," but he was determined to put on a great show.
Tour promoters Chugg Entertainment told the Associated Press that doctors assured John he would recover. John has already rescheduled a concert set for Tuesday in Auckland to Wednesday, according to the New Zealand Herald.
He is also scheduled for seven other concerts in Australia before proceeding to the US and Canada.
He struggled to perform 'Candle in the Wind' and told the audience he did not know how long he could continue, the Herald said. He briefly left the stage but returned in a new costume.
Several songs later he had lost his voice entirely and the show was over. He was seen weeping and waving to a cheering crowd as he left the stage, assisted by medics.
The concert was part of John's Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern told reporters she met John just hours before his show, and that he told her he was feeling unwell.
"I thought it was incredibly kind of him to give some time like that, given he obviously felt incredibly unwell," Ardern said.
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