Valerie Bertinelli Shares Sweet, Personalized Gift Elton John Sent Her with Fans

Valerie Bertinelli is giving fans a glimpse of a decades-old gift from Elton John.

When the celebrity chef, 64, shared a clip from her appearance on Jason Carter’s podcast Jason Unleashed on Monday, April 14, one eagle-eyed commenter spotted the treasured item in the background of the Instagram video.

“Ok wait… is that Elton in the photo on the shelf???? Inquiring minds want to know,” the Instagram user asked the Food Network alum.

A small framed photo of John, 78, in his signature sunglasses can be seen on a shelf in the background.

“Yes 🥰he sent me an autographed picture in 1976,” Bertinelli revealed.

That same year, Bertinelli dressed up as the pop icon on an episode of One Day at a Time, in which she and costar Mackenzie Phillips performed their own rendition of “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart,” John’s 1976 duet with Kiki Dee. 

In 2022, Bertinelli opened up about her admiration for the British musician while reminiscing with her son Wolf Van Halen about songs they used to listen to with his late father, Eddie Van Halen.

During the Mother's Day episode of SiriusXM's Classic Rewind series Wolfgang's Top of the Pack, Wolf cued up John’s "Burn Down the Mission" from his 1970 Tumbleweed Connection album, which prompted the discussion.

"Elton John — thought I was going to marry him before I met your dad," she said.

Bertinelli was married to the Van Halen frontman from 1981 until 2007. He died from cancer in October 2020.

"That wouldn't have worked," replied Wolf, referring to the fact that John identifies as gay.

"No, it wouldn't have," Bertinelli admitted. "But I still love and adore him, and I think he's brilliant. This is one of my absolute favorite songs, 'cause I love the piano rideout."

"The live version is even more stunning, but I definitely wore this album out, and then eventually I was able to meet him with your dad, and he definitely liked your dad more than me," she added.

"I'm sure he liked you very much," Wolf told his mom.

"He was so sweet," Bertinelli remembered. "I just absolutely adore Elton John."