The truth behind Jennifer Lopez’s make-or-break Vegas ‘residency’

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(NewsNation) — No one could ever accuse Jennifer Lopez of not wanting to work.

When her U.S. and (mainland) Europe tour was canceled last year (after after she turned it into a Greatest Hits tour), she went ahead and booked a random tour this summer through Africa, the Middle East, Asia and parts of Europe, hitting such hot spots as Cairo, Armenia, Kazakhstan and Abu Dhabi. 

And when her Las Vegas residency was canceled, she went ahead and booked a few dates over New Year’s and a week in 2026, calling it a “residency”!

To be fair, Lopez is indeed performing her “Up All Night” show at the Colosseum for four dates over New Year’s — announcing in a post on Instagram: “SURPRISE JLOVERS! We’re back! I’m doing a residency in Las Vegas! Join me for Up All Night Live In Las Vegas At The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Dec 30 – Jan 3, & select dates in March! Tickets on sale Friday, June 6 at 10 AM PT. 🤍”

‘A true residency is for a month at least’: Insider

But my insiders laughed when they talked about the “residency.” As one noted, “Please. A true residency is for a month at least. These are just concert dates.”

  • FILE - Actress Jennifer Lopez wears a creation as part of the Versace Spring-Summer 2020 collection, unveiled during the fashion week, in Milan, Italy, Friday, Sept. 20, 2019. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File)
  • Jennifer Lopez, a cast member in "Kiss of the Spider Woman," poses at the premiere of the film during the Sundance Film Festival on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2025, in Park City, Utah. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
  • Jennifer Lopez at an awards show.
  • Jennifer Lopez
  • Jennifer Lopez. Credit: Getty Images

Lopez had had her heart set on setting up another home in Las Vegas — her initial hopes last year were to do at least a year in Vegas … but that dream came crashing down at the end of March 2024, when MGM canceled residency talks. 

This latest move — and marketing of a “residency” — “is all about seeing if there is still any interest in her,” my insider said. “No one wanted to commit to a long run of shows after what happened last year. This is dipping her toe in, seeing if she can sell out not just over New Year’s, which is high traffic, but in March. That will be very important.” 

Jennifer Lopez dealt with tour cancellation in 2024

If she does sell, Lopez will likely try to recapture her “All I Have” magic — her residency at Planet Hollywood, which ran from 2016 to 2018, and sold out regularly, grossing $102 million.

But that’s a big “if.” Mainland audiences are still shying away from J.Lo overexposure from last year, in which Lopez had to endure:

  • February 16, 2024: “This is Me… Now” debuts alongside her accompanying documentary “The Greatest Love Story Never Told” (which follows her love story with Ben Affleck), and a “companion” musical film “This Is Me Now… A Love Story.” All of which flopped, and the album is Lopez’s worst-performing ever. 
  • March 13: Seven cities were canceled from her “This Is Me…Now” tour due to poor sales.
  • April 2: With lagging sales, Lopez’s tour is rebranded as “This Is Me… Live,” featuring her greatest hits instead of the treacly love songs from her latest album.
  • April 11: Lopez goes back to work filming “Kiss of the Spider Woman,” while Affleck leaves for Los Angeles.
  • May 6: Lopez co-chaired the annual Met Gala and showed up alone after Affleck refused to attend (Claiming he was filming in L.A.). On what was supposed to be a glorious homecoming for Lopez, she appeared gaunt and furious, snapping at reporters on the red carpet.
  • May 12: Lopez spent Mother’s Day 5,643 miles away from Affleck in Paris with her daughter Emme while Affleck was hanging out with his children in L.A. next to his ex-wife, Jennifer Garner.
  • May 15: Lopez spotted house hunting with her producer, Elaine Goldsmith-Thomas, despite Lopez and Affleck dropping $60 million in cash for a Beverly Hills mansion last June.
  • May 24: Lopez’s Netflix movie “Atlas” premieres and is panned. 
  • May 28: Affleck attends his daughter Violet’s graduation without Lopez.
  • May 29: It’s reported her $90 million deal with MGM in Las Vegas is kaput.
  • May 31: Live Nation announces tour cancellation.
  • June 2024: Lopez and Affleck put their $60 million house on the market. He is reported to be staying in a rental, alone.
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