Years later, when the legendary crooner celebrated his 75th birthday, he penned a heartwarming letter in Time, titled “Dear Zachary and Elijah.”
He writes, “You’re 11 and 9 years old now, and when I was your age, I could never have dreamed where life would take me. Looking back over the past 75 years, there is so much I am proud of, so much I have learned.”
The letter, published March 22, 2022, continues, “When I was young, I was told to fit in, to do what others expected even when it didn’t feel right. Now I realize I can only be me. Being true to myself is what gave me my voice and helped me face my greatest fears.”
Facing his ‘greatest fears’
Over the years, the five-time Grammy winner has had several near-death experiences, including in 2013 when he almost died appendicitis.
