Residency shows in the entertainment capital of the world are often touted as a tremendous achievement for any performer. The Las Vegas strip has been and continues to be a mainstay for some of music’s biggest names, though some stars are leaving it behind to make way for new talent to emerge. Here’s all the stars taking up residency in Las Vegas this year.
STAYING – Celine Dion
The powerhouse vocalist has consistently been Vegas’ most lucrative performer since she began her residency show titled Celine in 2011. Under her current contract, Dion is scheduled to remain at Caesars Palace Colosseum through 2019, which is sure to please her millions of fans worldwide that travel to Vegas for a performance. The Grammy winner has three legs planned for 2018 for a total of 37 shows happening now through June.
STAYING – Zedd
DJ/producer Zedd will get the party started (and keep it going) for a few more years. He extended his ongoing residency for an additional three years, which promises to keep him spinning the hottest tracks in key Vegas clubs. Party-goers can expect to see him make frequent appearances at MGM Grand hot spots Hakkasan Nightclub and Wet Republic, as well as Caesars Palace’s Omnia Nightclub through 2020.
STAYING…FOR NOW – Reba, Brooks & Dunn
This trio of country legends return once again to Caesars Palace Colosseum for exclusive performances that bring in fans from across the country. Their 2018 dates are so far limited to a total of 12 shows in March and August, though we are hopeful they’ll treat fans to more fun in the final months of the year.
STAYING…FOR NOW – Backstreet Boys
Backstreet’s back, alright! The best-selling boy band found their niche last year when they began a short, but successful residency at The Axis at Planet Hollywood. Backstreet Boys: Larger Than Life is returning to the space for an additional nine shows running throughout this month and next. While there’s no word yet on whether dates will be extended, impressive concert attendance records throughout the band’s previous gigs lead us to believe we’ll be seeing more of BSB in the future.
STAYING…FOR NOW – Cher
Pop icon Cher is currently splitting her time between Las Vegas and Washington, D.C. to perform her ongoing residency Classic Cher. She kicks off 2018 in Vegas at the Park Theater at the Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, performing nearly a dozen shows through January into early February. She’ll finish out the month of February at the Theater at MGM National Harbor in D.C., and once again return to Nevada for two more weeks of shows in May.
STAYING…FOR NOW – Rod Stewart
Rocker-turned-crooner Rod Stewart will extend his long-running Caesars Palace residency by eight dates this June. Stewart returns to Sin City for a short stretch of shows in the spring following Canadian and European tour dates this winter.
LEAVING – Elton John
Since 2011, Caesars Palace Colosseum has served as the home to Elton John’s acclaimed Million Dollar Piano show, his second Las Vegas residency. Sadly, the British composer announced he would not renew his contract to extend the residency and will give his final performances later this spring after seven years and roughly 200 shows. John can be seen on select dates this February through May, with his final show pegged for May 19.
LEAVING – Jennifer Lopez
J. Lo’s first Las Vegas residency certainly made a splash. Jennifer Lopez: All I Have not only earned the star wide praise from critics but became the highest-grossing production held at The Axis at Planet Hollywood in its first year alone. Lopez will create a void for the venue when she gives her final performance later this year after a two-year run. The good news, however, is that fans will have ample opportunity to see the triple-threat own the stage, as she has performances scheduled intermittently from February through June, and again throughout September.
ARRIVING – Lady Gaga
Perhaps the biggest news to hit the Vegas strip was the announcement that Mother Monster herself had landed her own residency gig. In what appears to be a natural fit, Lady Gaga will begin a two-year contract with the Park Theater – Monte Carlo in December 2018 following the massive success of her ongoing Joanne World Tour. Gaga’s enormous talent, showmanship, and love of the glitz and spotlight make for a recipe for success in Vegas and we can’t wait to see it unfold.