Can we all give Elton John a big round of applause?! On Monday, July 29, the “Rocket Man” singer took to Instagram to celebrate 29 years of sobriety and, in the post, he explained how amazing it’s been to live above the influence every single day.

“29 years ago today, I was a broken man. I finally summoned up the courage to say 3 words that would change my life: ‘I need help,'” he shared. “Thank you to all the selfless people who have helped me on my journey through sobriety. I am eternally grateful. Elton xo.”

Elton, 72, accompanied the heartfelt caption with a pic of his Alcoholics Anonymous sobriety coin that helped mark the occasion. “To thine own self be true,” it read, along with AA’s motto of “Unity, Service, and Recovery.”

Elton’s fans also congratulated him in the comments. “Congratulations Elton!!! I am so glad for all you’ve been able to accomplish! Here’s to many more years of happiness for you! ❤️” one wrote. Another said, “This is so amazing everyone is so proud of you! you’ve had such an admirable journey, and you’ve worked so hard 💗.”

However, Elton’s journey has been anything but easy. In a previous interview with Variety, he opened up about letting go of substances that he liked to use like alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. “There were times I was having chest pains or staying up for three days at a time,” he recalled. “I used to have spasms and be found on the floor and they’d put me back to bed and half an hour later I’d be doing the same. It’s crazy.”

Elton John
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“What I couldn’t do when I was an addict was communicate, except when I was on cocaine I thought I could but I talked rubbish,” Elton added. “I have a confrontation problem which I don’t have anymore because I learned if you don’t communicate and you don’t talk about things then you’re never going to find a solution.”

We’re so proud of you, Elton!