Elton John Tests Positive for COVID-19, Postpones Texas Concerts

Elton John performs during the Farewell Yellow Brick Road Tour at Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, on Jan. 19, 2022. Erika Goldring/Getty Images

Elton John has postponed this week’s scheduled Texas concerts after contracting COVID-19.

The award-winning British singer and pianist said in a statement on Instagram that he’s disappointed to be rescheduling his two farewell concert dates in Dallas after testing positive.

John, 74, kicked off his “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour on Jan. 19.

“It’s always a massive disappointment to move shows and I’m so sorry to anyone who’s been inconvenienced by this but I want to keep myself and my team safe,” John said on Instagram, adding that he is fully vaccinated and has received a booster shot for COVID-19, the disease caused by the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus.

He said his symptoms are mild, and that he is “fully expecting” to be able to perform in Arkansas on Saturday.

“As always, thank you for all your love and support and I can’t wait to see you all soon,” he wrote.

John said those who were meant to attend his concerts at the American Airlines Center in Dallas on Tuesday and Wednesday will be contacted with new show dates “really soon.”

John’s rescheduled 2020 North American tour kicked off on Jan. 19 in New Orleans and was scheduled to make stops in Houston, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, New York, and Miami.

John previously said he was postponing European dates on his world tour until 2023 so that he can have an operation on an injured hip.

In 2018, he said he planned to retire from touring, as he wanted to spend more time with his family.

“And as much as I love playing, I want to be with my boys now. This is the new part of my life,” John told NPR in an interview the following year.

It comes less than a week after British singer Adele postponed a 24-date Las Vegas residency hours before it was to start, citing delivery delays and COVID-19 illness among her crew.

Adele had been set to perform 24 shows at Caesars Palace Hotel starting Jan. 21 following the release of her fourth album, “30.”

“I’m so sorry but my show ain’t ready,” she said in an emotional video posted on social media.

“We’ve tried absolutely everything that we can to pull it together in time and for it to be good enough for you but we’ve been absolutely destroyed by delivery delays and COVID,” she said, adding that “half my team are down with” the CCP virus.

In a statement on Twitter, Caesars Palace said it understood fans’ disappointment but added: “Creating a show of this magnitude is incredibly complex. We fully support Adele and are confident the show she unveils at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace will be extraordinary.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.