Elton John Recovering After Surgery

Elton John is recovering at his home in France after undergoing surgery to remove his appendix. The 66-year-old singer had the operation at Princess Grace Hospital in Monaco last Thursday, according to the BBC. John was forced to cancel a string of festival dates last month after he called in doctors while touring and was diagnosed with appendicitis.

100 Greatest Artists: Elton John

John is expected to sufficiently recover for a return to the stage next month – he’s scheduled to headline the iHeartRadio Festival in Las Vegas, among other gigs – and posted a thank you message to fans on his website last week. “Your well wishes have touched me deeply and will play a big part in my recovery,” he wrote. “I cannot wait to see you all and thank you in person when I resume my concert schedule later this year.”

His first solo album in seven years, The Diving Board, is set for a September 24th release. John will also be the first recipient of the Brits Icon award, an honor that he will receive next month.