Elton John’s upcoming 300-date “Farewell Yellow Brick Road” tour will be the end of the road. The Rocket Man, who has been headlining at Caesars Palace since 2004, announced on Wednesday that he’s retiring from touring in 2021 to spend more time with his two sons.

John’s surprise announcement came a day after after Neil Diamond revealed he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and was ending his career effective immediately. He was on his 50th anniversary tour.

John, 70, and his longtime writing partner, Bernie Taupin, are being honored Sunday at the 60th GRAMMY Awards where they will be receiving the Recording Academy President’s Merit Award. John, a five-time GRAMMY winner, is scheduled to perform with Miley Cyrus.

He told Entertainment Tonight his decision was “all about the boys. I love my boys,” he said, referring to Zachary, 7, and Elijah, 5, whom he adopted with husband and Canadian film maker David Furnish.

John has done more than 200 shows at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. His last show there is May 19.

Wired.com.uk reported John is experimenting with using virtual reality and artificial intelligence “as a way of preserving his musical legacy way beyond his normal life. In fifty years, musicians who haven’t been born yet might sit down at a piano with an AI Elton and collaborate with him on a new tune."

The Scene and Heard

A belated job-well-done to longtime Las Vegas publicist Laura Herlovich, who has sold the company she started 28 years ago, PR Plus, to partner Alissa Kelly. When I moved here in 1999 I asked a colleague who I should reach out to first in the PR community. The response was “Start with Laura Herlovich.” Her biggest clients at the time was the Hard Rock Hotel. She was and remains a good friend and a true professional. “To be clear (smiley face) I’m not ‘retiring’ just dialing it back a notch,” said wrote. She will continue to represent the Pawn Stars, Pia Zadora and Boyz II Men and share the Westgate with PR Plus.

On This Day…

January 26, 1960: Frank Sinatra headlines the “Summit at the Sands,” a three-week gig marking the heyday of the Rat Pack – Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Joey Bishop and Peter Lawford. They filmed Ocean’s 11 during the day, then stage raucous, impromptu shows at the Copa Room at night. (Thanks to Mike Precker)

Sightings

Donald Trump Jr., at the SHOT Show on Tuesday at the Sands Expo Convention (Venetian). Alex Hollings of the website SOFREP, for special ops veterans, described the industry’s largest gun show this way: If you haven’t attended SHOT or a similar convention before…just imagine your high school reunion if the decorating theme as $6,000 AR (assault rifle) platforms, and you’ve pretty much got it.”…

Last weekend at Topgolf (MGM Grand): Washington Nationals shortstop Trea Turner, Olympic swim stars Missy Franklin and Michael Phelps in separate groups. Golf ace Jordan Spieth took some swings with Phelps.

The Punch Line

“Rum maker Bacardi announced yesterday that it is acquiring Patron Spirits for $5.1 billion. And like most Bacardi announcements, it was shouted at 5 a.m. in the back seat of an Uber.” – Seth Meyers

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