Ari Rosenbloom, CNN
(CNN) — Las Vegas is a city lit up by rich history, luxurious hotels, sumptuous dining experiences, a constant roll of the dice, and, of course, unique music residencies.
Considering the 120-year-old city of Nevada was once accessible only to dirt roads, it has come a long way, especially when it comes to entertainment and music.
These days, everyone from Mariah Carey and Adele to Garth Brooks and Lionel Richie are holding court at the checkered resort performance venue along Las Vegas Boulevard. But there are some artists who blazed the trail before them.
Here are some of the most influential music residencies that helped define Las Vegas as the entertainment capital of the world.
Usher
Usher's “My Way” stay inspired many moms to spend a relaxing and fun weekend in Sin City. The show opened at Park MGM's Dolby Live Theater in her 2022 year, and by the time the “Yah” singer ended her residency in December 2023, the show had become the year's busiest production on the Strip. Celebrities including Jennifer Lopez, Kim Kardashian, Jessica Alba and Zendaya flocked to see the show. Usher previously performed “Usher: The Las Vegas Residency” at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace through 2021. Between the two, Usher performed a total of 100 shows and earned more than $110 million, according to Billboard.
wayne newton
Wayne Newton is as synonymous with Las Vegas as casinos. One of the pioneers of music residencies in Las Vegas, Newton has performed in front of more than 40 million people throughout his record-setting 50,000-plus concerts in the city. In 2023, he returns to the Flamingo Las Vegas to play the show he first headlined in 1963 during his residency, Wayne: Up Close and Personal, singing his classic hits and featuring Wayne. He thrilled the audience with his memorable images and personal stories. A career spanning decades. Known as Mr. His Las Vegas, the performer has become such a local icon that a street is named after him.
Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley made history in 1969, at the height of Elvis mania, when he stayed at the suburban InterContinental Hotel, now known as the Westgate Las Vegas Resort & Casino. During his seven-year run, she thrilled women with more than 600 concerts until her last show in 1976, just one year before her death. The memory of the “King of Rock and Roll” is so woven into the fabric of Las Vegas that a bronze statue of the performer now stands inside the Westgate Hotel. Of course, you can walk into almost any local chapel and enter the chapel. An Elvis impersonator will officiate the ceremony. Long live the king.
celine dion
Celine Dion earned the nickname “Queen of Las Vegas” during her historic 16-year run as a resident performer, and for good reason. Her influence in the city is marked by her 2003 debut “A New Day” residency at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. The Colosseum is a theater built specifically for the “Power of Love” singer, which is a groundbreaking feat. Dion's subsequent success ushered in a new era for her strip. Her popular shows helped restore the Las Vegas-based residency to the status symbol it was once considered. In 2019, after performing more than 1,000 concerts in front of more than 4.5 million people, Dion took her final, glamorous final bow. Her ticket sales were $681 million, and her Dion performance in Las Vegas is widely considered one of her most successful performances.
diana ross
In 1970, Diana Ross played her final show with the Supremes at the now-demolished Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas. In 2015, Ross returned to the Strip with a residency at the Venetian Theater, The Essential Diana Ross: Some Memories Never Fade, summarizing her decades-long career as one of R&B's most influential artists. performed a greatest hits spectacle. Ross' performances include some of her most beloved solo hits, including “You Can't Hurry Love,” “Stop!” “Ain't No Mountain High Enough,” and “I'm Coming Out.” In addition, “In the Name of Love” is included in her set list. She continued to dazzle concertgoers with her signature costumes until the end of her “Memories” residency in 2017.
elton john
Elton John performed a total of 450 concerts at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace over two 20-year residencies. Elton John holds more concerts at the venue than anywhere else in the world. Starting with a five-year stint on “Red Piano” in 2004, he returned to the Strip in 2011 with the “Million Dollar Piano” show. By the time he made his final curtain call in 2018, he had sold about 2 million tickets between the two. The “Rocketman” singer worked with Yamaha to create a custom piano for “Million Dollar Piano.” Images displayed on stage and throughout the show.
britney spears
There was a time when a Las Vegas residency was considered the best fit for artists of yesteryear. That changed in 2013 when Britney Spears, still at the height of her pop superstardom, debuted her residency, Britney: Piece of Me, at Planet Hollywood's Axis Theater. was. With a set list of songs that included some of her most iconic hits, Spears' residency raked in $137.7 million in ticket sales over its four-year run, according to Forbes magazine. Spears became the first artist to be housed inside the then-newly renovated theater, where she performed just under 250 shows. Since Spears brought pop music to the Strip, many artists in the genre have followed suit, including Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, and Adele.
U2
You can always count on U2 to deliver an immersive concert. They took their approach to innovative new heights with their 'U2:UV Achtung Baby' residency at Las Vegas' newest gem, MSG Sphere at the Venetian. The residency begins in September 2023 with the long-awaited grand opening of the state-of-the-art venue and his first live performance with Bono and The Edge in four years. The Sphere is the Strip's most striking new product, featuring a crystal-clear LED screen that projects a clear image onto its domed exterior. The venue also boasts its own powerful audio system, offering a 4D multisensory experience with a variety of immersive features to complement the large-scale concert experience. U2's “Achtung Baby” residency ended earlier this month.
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