Photo Credit: Elton John by Shawn Miller for the Library of Congress / Public Domain
Elton John has signed a multi-million-dollar deal to star in a Last Vegas residency as a hologram, set to open at the new Hard Rock Hotel next summer.
The legendary Elton John has signed a multi-million-dollar deal to star in a first-of-its-kind Las Vegas residency—as a hologram. The show is set to become one of the main attractions at the new Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, due to open next summer. Elton will reportedly film performances later this year at Pinewood Studios and then be digitally transformed into a “lifelike” hologram.
Using technology said to be more advanced than that used for London’s massively successful ABBA Voyage, the show will also feature holograms of Dua Lipa and Elton John’s longtime collaborator Kiki Dee. The latter recorded the iconic “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” with him nearly 50 years ago, while the former teamed up with him for the 2021 hit “Cold Heart.”
“Elton, Dua, and Kiki will be holograms. It’s similar to the ABBA Voyage show in London, but far more advanced as the technology has come on so much,” a source told The Sun. “Elton signed a seven-figure deal with Hard Rock. It’s a shift away from a traditional residency and is billed as a fully immersive experience. […] It’s going to look phenomenal.”
Interestingly, back in 2018, Elton John seemed opposed to the idea of appearing as a hologram (at least after his death). During a conversation with NME, he recalled telling his eldest son to promise him “there won’t be a hologram going around the world doing concerts.”
Regardless, the project comes at an interesting time for the 79-year-old star, who officially retired from touring after his Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour in 2023. He still performs occasionally, but Elton has become more discerning about his live appearances after revealing that his vision has become severely limited.