How Elton John’s “Rocketman” Helped Me Process Trauma on the Big Screen

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When I saw the trailer for Rocketman, I instantly knew I’d see the movie when it hit theaters. In the mid nineties, my mother and I would trek from our small village of Seville, Ohio into the “big city” of Medina to do grocery shopping. Our soundtrack, more often than not, was Elton John’s Greatest Hits, a 1992 CD with Elton’s top songs from 1970 to 1974. This early start meant that I have loved Elton John from the time I was very small and have continued being a fan throughout my life. So I was extremely excited to see his story on the big screen, especially considering that I hadn’t put much time into getting to know the man behind the music.

Here is the list of things I knew about Elton John before I saw Rocketman:

1. Elton John is gay
2. Elton John plays the piano
3. Elton John wears costumes and big glasses and rhinestones
4. Elton John is the MVP of Disney soundtracks, save for Phil Collins because Tarzan was 100% a gift

Spoilers ahead!

Rocketman had me hooked because of this parallel between my own story and that of an artist I had adored my whole life.