Adele: cancelling Las Vegas shows was worst moment in my career

Adele has said the decision to cancel her Las Vegas residency was the “worst moment in my career” and vowed to “nail” the rescheduled shows later this year.

Speaking seven months after the dates were cancelled, the British singer-songwriter explained why she pulled out just 24 hours before she was due on stage.

“There was just no soul in it,” she said in an interview with Elle magazine. “The stage setup wasn’t right. It was very disconnected from me and my band, and it lacked intimacy. And maybe I tried too hard to give it those things in such a controlled environment.

“It was the worst moment in my career by far. I was so excited about those shows. It was devastating.”

While she was embarrassed about the cancellation, she said she was also proud to have stood by her artistic needs. “The first couple of months were really, really hard. But it actually made my self-confidence grow, because it was a very brave thing to do. And I don’t think many people would have done what I did.”

The rescheduled shows, Weekends with Adele, will run at Caesars Palace from November to March. Adele said it felt like the appropriate time in her career for the shows.

“I think I’m right to do it now. I know I’m not like, 60 years old, and I haven’t got 20 albums under my belt. But I think my music will work in a show like Vegas.”

The new stage is an adaptation of her design and aims to capture the intimacy she felt was missing last January. “I want to tell the story of the beginning of my career to now. I’m not gonna give too much away about it, but the show grows. It’s all about the music, and it’s really, really nostalgic. It’s gonna be so beautiful,” she said.

Adele, 34, also gave a rare glimpse into her private life, saying she has “never been in love like this” and is “obsessed” with her boyfriend, the American sports agent Rich Paul.

The singer, who has a son with her ex-husband Simon Konecki, confirmed her relationship with Paul in September 2021. She said she did want to get married again and have more children.

“I’m a homemaker and I’m a matriarch, and a stable life helps me with my music. But right now, all I got in my brain is Vegas,” she said. “I wanna fucking nail it.”

After a six-year hiatus, Adele returned to the spotlight in 2021 with her fourth album, 30, launching it with a TV special, An Audience With Adele, recorded at the London Palladium.

It was filmed in front of an A-list audience, with guests including Dame Emma Thompson, Jodie Comer, Samuel L Jackson, the Years and Years star Olly Alexander and Boy George.

It followed her interview with the American chatshow host Oprah Winfrey for a two-hour special, which was broadcast on CBS the week before.