LAS VEGAS — Kelly Clarkson has delayed the start of her eagerly awaited Las Vegas residency due to vocal strain from intense rehearsals, just hours before her show was set to begin on Friday evening.

The Grammy-winning artist shared the news of the cancellation on social media around 6:30 p.m. Pacific Time, shortly before her 8 p.m. performance at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace was to commence. Performances for both Friday and Saturday night of “Studio Sessions” are postponed.

“I am heartbroken to have to delay the opening nights at Caesars tonight and tomorrow,” Clarkson expressed in her announcement. “The preparation and rehearsals have impacted my voice. I want the shows to meet your expectations, and I must ensure I don’t cause serious harm to my voice.”

The 42-year-old entertainer, known for her powerful vocals since winning the first season of American Idol in 2002, emphasized her commitment to delivering quality performances for her fans. She announced plans to rest over the weekend and through next week, with shows expected to resume next weekend.

“I am taking this weekend and next week to rest up so that we can deliver what you all deserve,” Clarkson said in a statement. “The show is truly incredible. The musicians and singers are outstanding, and I want us all to start out strong.”

The residency, officially titled “Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency,” was announced in February and represents her return to the Las Vegas stage after successful runs at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in 2023 and 2024. The residency is scheduled to run through Nov. 15, featuring 18 performances total. 

The cancellation was unexpected. Clarkson had shared photos from rehearsal in the days leading up to Friday’s planned opening night, including a post just a few hours prior to the cancellation, captioned “TONIGHT!! #OpeningNight #StudioSessions #VegasRehearsals” 

There has been no word yet about rescheduling the postponed shows or ticket refunds for affected performances. The next scheduled performances are set for July 11 and 12.

The singer expressed gratitude for her fans’ understanding and support.

“I can’t wait to be back next weekend and show y’all what we’ve been working on,” she wrote.

Clarkson’s last-minute cancellation isn’t unprecedented. In 2022, Adele postponed the opening of her own Vegas residency, “Weekends With Adele,” the day before her shows were set to begin, saying COVID-19 illnesses among her staff had made it impossible to finish the show.