Elton John has reportedly signed a multi-million-pound deal to star in a groundbreaking Las Vegas residency as a hologram, allowing fans to continue watching him perform long after his death. The show is set to become one of the headline attractions at the new Hard Rock Hotel in Las Vegas, which opens next summer.
The music legend will film performances later this year at Pinewood Studios before being digitally transformed into a lifelike hologram. He won't be appearing alone, with Dua Lipa and longtime collaborator Kiki Dee also expected to feature as holograms.
The show promises to use technology even more advanced than London's hugely successful ABBA Voyage. A source close to the project described it as a "fully immersive experience" that will "look phenomenal".
This project marks a surprising next chapter for Elton, who officially retired from touring after finishing his record-breaking Farewell Yellow Brick Road tour in 2023. Although he still performs occasional one-off shows, the 79-year-old has been increasingly selective about live appearances.
What's perhaps most surprising is how dramatically this hologram deal appears to contradict Elton's own feelings about holograms. In 2018, he admitted that the thought of a digital version of himself touring the world after his death made him deeply uncomfortable.
At the time, hologram concerts were still something of a novelty, associated more with resurrecting artists like Tupac Shakur than giving living performers a second career. However, technology has moved on rapidly since then, and the phenomenal success of ABBA Voyage has shown that audiences are more than happy to pay to watch digital versions of their favourite artists.
Elton's decision to embrace hologram technology as a way to continue performing is seen as a logical next step, especially given that his farewell tour has already ended. The project is expected to give fans a chance to experience his music and performances in a new and innovative way.
