Sir Elton John is nothing but candid about his past drug habit - and now he's opened up about how his cocaine use in the '70s "lead a lot of people to say I've always been a diva."
His honesty about the worst time of his life comes after he celebrated 2019 as "the most successful year of my career."
Chatting about how cocaine affected his reputation as a global musical sensation, the Rocketman icon, 72, says the first time he took was the biggest mistake he's ever made.
Talking to the Awards Chatter podcast, he revealed how he'd first come across it.
"I saw someone doing cocaine," Elton said, "And I didn't know what it was.
"They said it makes you feel good. So I thought, 'I will have a go.'
"Worst decision of my life."
He explained that it affected his mood and behaviour - and his conduct got him branded a "diva."
"I shouted at people," he admitted, "I wasn't proud of that behaviour because it is not really who I am.
"It lead a lot of people to say I've always been a diva. I am not.
"Now I don't take drugs."
He celebrated the festive season with a video chatting about all he'd been grateful in 2019 - including the fan support that had made it such a success.
"Merry Christmas everybody," he told the camera, "And thank you for making 2019 probably the most successful year of my career.
"Wow, at 72 years of age, I'm blown away."
Elton's seen some staggering wins over the past months - including big sales for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour and his very own biopic, Rocketman.
"First of all," he continued, "You have supported the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour so well it is breaking box office records everywhere. Thank you.
"Rocketman came out in the spring and got incredible reviews, and did incredibly well. Thank you.
"Me, my autobiography, came out in the autumn and did incredibly well. Thank you.
"And if that wasn't enough to make you question your own successes of 2019, I was named in Billboard the number one male artist of all time, which I cannot believe. Thank you, Billboard, for that. Wow."
