It’s the end of an era for John Michael Montgomery, and his fans. Mongtomery announced in early 2024 that he was planning on retiring from touring at the end of 2025, and now he seems to be making good on that promise. Montgomery will play his final show on his The Road Home Tour in his home state of Kentucky, at Rupp Arena on December 12.
“I stepped on a tour bus for the first time in 1992, and haven’t looked back since,” Montgomery says. “But now it’s time to bring it all back home for my last concert, and I can’t think of a better place than Rupp Arena. I wanted to celebrate this occasion with my family, so I invited some of them to perform with me. We are going to have a lot of fun and end this ride in a big way,”
Montgomery will be joined by his brother Eddie Montgomery, son Walker Montgomery and son-in-law, Travis Denning.
View this post on Instagram
What John Michael Montgomery Said About Retiring
When Montgomery first announced the news on social media, he reflected on his more than 30 years as part of country music.
“I hope everyone enjoyed bringing in 2024 and may it be a wonderful one for all my friends out there,” Montgomery shared. “For me it will be the start of my farewell tour as I have decided to wind down my touring career over this year and 2025. It’s been a wonderful run for me from the beginning over 30 years ago in 1992 when my first song ‘Life’s a Dance’ was released to radio I think either as a 45 vinyl or on a cassette tape.
“CDs had not quite taken over the market yet and the internet was still in its infancy,” he continued. “It amazes me where it is today. I’ve been fortunate and blessed to be able to do what I love for so many years so. Please join me on my journey as I say goodbye to the road life. And thanks so much for your support for the last three decades, it’s meant so much to me.”
Later, the “I Can Love You Like That” singer expounded on his decision to come off the road at the end of 2025.
“I’ll never forget the first time I stepped foot on a tour bus for my first show back in 1992, with my first single ‘Life’s A Dance’ just coming out on radio,” Montgomery said at the time. “It was so surreal to me. And of course like any new artist would, I worried about how long it would last and hoped it would not be a ‘flash in the pan’ career. So every album, every song, and every year of being able to do what I love for so many years, and for the fans who have supported me and my music, I’ve cherished those moments very deeply. So, a BIG thank you to them all! I’m not saying I’m never gonna step on stage and perform again.
“I still love that feeling of entertaining and the crowd cheering and singing along with my songs as much as that first show over thirty years ago, and it all started when my parents got me on stage when I was a kid,” he continued. “So I’m sure there will be some situations where I just need to do a show here and there because I’ll miss that too much. But I just feel the time has come to say goodbye to the road life.”
Tickets for Montgomery’s final show will be available for presale from Wednesday, July 30th at 10:00 AM until Thursday July 31st at 10:00 PM, with code MONTGOMERY. General on-sale begins on Friday, August 1, at 10:00 AM.
Find more information, and all of his upcoming shows, at JohnMichael.com.