VEGAS MUSIC ROUNDUP: J. Lo Cancels Tour & Lies About Why, Minaj Pt. 2

Jennifer Lopez has canceled her upcoming summer concert tour of the US. Promoter Live Nation issued a press release Friday explaining that the pop superstar is “taking time off to be with her children, family, and close friends.”

If that explanation sounds familiar, it’s the same lie used by everyone who has ever gotten fired from a job and had to provide some reason as to why.

The real story, as we reported on Wednesday, was anemic ticket sales for “This is Me … Live.” Seven of the shows, according to Variety, had to be quietly scrapped due to low demand and, according to Ticketmaster, fully a third of the 19,500 seats for Lopez’s July 20 show at T-Mobile Arena were still unsold as of Wednesday.

“I am completely heartsick and devastated about letting you down,” the 54-year-old singer said on her website. “Please know that I wouldn’t do this if I didn’t feel that it was absolutely necessary. I promise I will make it up to you and we will all be together again. I love you all so much. Until next time.”

As we reported, Lopez had been in talks for a fall residency at the 5,200-seat Park Theater at the MGM Grand, but that ship has obviously sailed.

Tickets for the Las Vegas date will automatically be refunded — at least to all who purchased them through Ticketmaster. Purchasers through third-party resale sites such as SeatGeek, StubHub, or VividSeats, will need to contact those sites.

Minaj à Deux

Superstar Nicki Minaj returns to the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 28. The occasion is the second leg of her “Pink Friday 2” world tour, which just played the T-Mobile Arena on March 8. Tickets went on sale this morning through AXS.com.

NBA Legend Honored by Dead

Photos of Bill Walton were projected behind the Dead & Company during its Sphere residency on Thursday night. The former Boston Celtics center, who died on Monday of cancer at 71, was one of the world’s biggest Grateful Dead Fans. Walton, whom drummer Mickey Hart called his “best friend” — attended an estimated 1,000 Dead shows.