Jennifer Lopez says she's in her 'happy era' as she launches Vegas residency
Jennifer Lopez says she's in her 'happy era' as she launches Vegas residency
SHAFIQ NAJIBWed, March 11, 2026 at 12:25 PM UTC
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Jennifer Lopez says she's in her 'happy era' as she launches Vegas residency
Jennifer Lopez is taking audiences through the story of her life and the lessons she's learned along the way in her new Las Vegas residency at Caesars Palace.
The two-hour high-energy show blends Lopez's biggest pop hits with theatrical elements inspired by Old Hollywood, Broadway and classic Vegas spectacles.
Structured in four acts, the production celebrates the singer, actor and entrepreneur's decadeslong career, while also reflecting on her personal journey.
"I feel like my shows are always an athletic event," Lopez joked during rehearsal, speaking with ABC News' Juju Chang in an interview that aired Wednesday on "Good Morning America."
The residency marks a new chapter for the 56-year-old superstar, who says she's embracing what she calls her "happy era."
"I'm in my happy era," Lopez said. "I think for the first time in my life, I feel like I'm free. I am on my own. And it feels really good."
Amy Sussman/Getty Images - Jennifer Lopez attends the 83rd Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 11, 2026 in Beverly Hills, California.
She continued, "I didn't really know what that felt like since I was in my early 20s. And even before that, you know, I've always had a boyfriend. There was always kind of, like, someone in my life and so many other things that I felt like were out of my control, and I just am at a point in my life ... where I really trust myself and have learned to kind of -- I guess this sounds funny -- appreciate myself a little bit more instead of being so hard on myself all the time and always trying to prove so many things."
For her Las Vegas residency, Lopez performs reimagined versions of her songs backed by a full orchestra, something she says she had always wanted to do.
"I wanted to have an orchestra onstage for this show, which I've never done," she said. "And all of the songs are reimagined in that way."
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The show pays tribute to the city that has long served as a home to many superstar residencies, while also incorporating elements of Broadway, Lopez's first love as a performer.
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"It's a celebration," Lopez said of the show. "That life is so precious. And, you know, even my kids going off to college now, it goes so quickly, and it's like ... you have to cherish and live every single moment."
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The residency comes after a difficult personal period for Lopez, following the highly publicized breakup of her marriage to Ben Affleck in 2024.
She said that moment forced her to slow down and focus on herself and her family.
"I had stop everything. And I took a year off. I canceled tours. I decided to just be home and sit in what had happened without running away from it. Through work, through another person, through anything. Just sit," Lopez said.
"I needed to be home with my kids, and that was the priority at that time," she continued. "But I really needed to... I was just at a point where I was like, 'What is going on with you?' Because I couldn't blame anybody else. Because I don't think that that's where the lesson is. And so, I really wanted to figure myself out."
That process, she said, helped her learn something she once feared -- being comfortable on her own.
Asked if she is currently dating anyone, Lopez replied, "No. No, I'm not. God forbid. I don't want to ruin anything. It's so nice right now. I'm so happy. It's the best. I just feel really good right now."
Despite decades in the spotlight, Lopez says she feels stronger than ever.
"I am a mom of graduates this year who are going to college. I am a showgirl and an entertainer and an actor and an entrepreneur," she said. "I am happy, and I am healthy, and I'm grateful. That's who I am today. And I'm surrounded by love, which is the best part."
Ultimately, Lopez said she hopes audiences leave the show with a simple lesson.
"It's definitely 'Get up no matter what happens and dance again,'" she said. "Because you will ... life kind of will throw things at you, but dance. Keep dancing, keep finding the joy in every moment, in every day. Because it's there."
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
