Carrie Underwood extends Las Vegas Strip residency; 2 big shows closing
Sin City has made music a major attraction, but two of the world's biggest stars won't be coming back, while another has extended her stay.
You can blame (or thank) Elton John and Celine Dion. Even as they are able to sell out arenas anywhere in the world, the performers decided to play long residencies in Las Vegas.
They certainly weren't the first to do so, but both singers opted to make Las Vegas their home for extended periods, before that was the cool thing to do.
Before John and Dion embraced the Las Vegas Strip, the city's headliners were a weird mix of has-beens, kitschy performers, and acts that work only in Vegas's unique environment. Acts like Carrot Top, David Blaine, and Donny Osmond found an audience in Las Vegas that they would likely not have reached elsewhere.
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Carrot Top has headlined at MGM Resorts International's (MGM) - Get Free Report Luxor for nearly 20 years (he'll reach that milestone soon). Only-in-Vegas acts still have their place on the Strip, but they have largely been overshadowed by music's biggest artists.
Caesars Entertainment (CZR) - Get Free Report, for example, has Adele, Garth Brooks, Miranda Lambert, Keith Urban, and Shania Twain in residency at various venues.
MGM offers Bruno Mars (as well as his Silk Sonic duo), Usher, and Lady Gaga.
The Strip's newest resort casino, Resorts World Las Vegas, has become an instant player in the space, hosting huge names at its Resorts World Theater. That lineup, which could challenge Caesars and MGM when it comes to star power, has lost two big names while a third will extend her residency into 2024. Image source: Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
Resorts World Las Vegas loses two big stars, keeps another
Resorts World opened during the covid pandemic. That's a tough situation for a massive property that's trying to revitalize the north end of the Las Vegas Strip.
Before Resorts World opened, there was little reason to visit the North Strip. The Strat has some unique attractions and Circus Circus has tried to position itself as the Strip's only family resort, but the north section of the famed 4.2-mile road had mostly empty land and limited development.
Resorts World and the upcoming Fontainebleau Las Vegas aimed to change that. In addition to having a very impressive resort filled with unique restaurants, an impressive casino, and a broad food hall that replaces the traditional buffet, Resorts World has made entertainment one of its calling cards.
The venue's main theater has hosted residencies from Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood. Two of those shows, however, will close while the third has signed an extension.
Katy Perry will no longer play Las Vegas
Perry will close her show at Resorts World in October while Bryan's closes in January. That leaves Underwood, who was actually the first performer to play a residency at the newest Las Vegas Strip resort. She will extend her residency.
Underwood has added 18 new shows in 2024 for her "Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency." Tickets for those will go on sale Sept. 18 at 10 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern).
"Exclusively designed for the state-of-the-art venue, Underwood’s Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency continues to be a can’t-miss show in Las Vegas, garnering rave reviews by critics and fans alike and selling out runs since its premiere in December 2021," Resorts World says. "Underwood kicked off her 2023 run of shows in June, following the end of her highly successful, 43-city U.S. arena tour."
Celine Dion, who has also headlined at Resorts World, has not announced any new show dates as she has been struggling with health issues. The singer has been battling the autoimmune disorder Stiff Person Syndrome.
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