Elton John becomes a parent

Sir Elton John is holding close a new tiny dancer.

The piano man and his husband, Canadian filmmakerDavid Furnish, have become parents to a seven-pound, 15-ounce baby boy born on Christmas Day. The news was first reported Monday night by USMagazine.com and confirmed to The Associated Press by John's Los Angeles-based publicist.

Zachary Jackson Levon Furnish-John was born in California via a surrogate, whose identity is being protected by the new parents.

Zachary is the 62-year-old John's first child with the 48-year-old Furnish. The couple married in 2005.

In a joint statement, the new parents told USMagazine.com that "Zachary is healthy and doing well" and they are "overwhelmed with happiness and joy at this very special moment."

In 2009, John and Furnish failed in their bid to adopt a 14-month-old Ukrainian child.

Ukraine's family, youth and sports minister, Yuriy Pavlenko, said John,was too old to adopt. Pavlenko also said Ukraine did not recognize homosexual unions and only married couples could adopt.