Las Vegas is the Headliner Capital of the World
Las Vegas is widely known as the Entertainment Capital of the World, but Sin City also is the Headliner Capital of the World.
There is something for nearly everyone, from the mainstays — including Celine Dion, Sir Elton John, Rod Stewart, Mariah Carey and Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez, Pitbull and Lionel Richie at Axis at Planet Hollywood — to the extended-run and occasional headliners, among them Bruno Mars at the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, John Fogerty and Diana Ross at the Venetian and Rascal Flatts at the Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.
There is Human Nature at the Venetian, Clint Holmes at the Palazzo and Olivia Newton-John and Donny and Marie Osmond at the Flamingo. Frankie Moreno, who has headlined at the Stratosphere, the Smith Center for the Performing Arts and, most recently, Planet Hollywood, is without a home, but this Las Vegas resident is definitely worth seeing wherever he is.
These are just the music artists, and there are some who were certainly and inadvertently left off this list.
How about all the Cirque du Soleil shows? All of them showcase incredible artistry and athleticism, but “Mystere” at Treasure Island, “Michael Jackson One” at Mandalay Bay and Criss Angel’s “Mindfreak Live!” top the list for this A+E journalist. Don’t forget the award-winning and stellar “Le Reve — The Dream” at Wynn Las Vegas.
Theater sadly has been a mixed bag in Las Vegas. “Jersey Boys” at Paris Las Vegas closes in September and “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” in December, but “Baz: Star Crossed Love” at the Palazzo, “Rock of Ages” at the Rio, “50 Shades! The Parody” at Bally’s and more are still on marquees. The illusionist and magicians, including the aforementioned Angel, Mat Franco, David Copperfield et al, continue to cast their spells over fans.
The female and male adult revue shows on the Las Vegas Strip? There is Chippendales at the Rio, Thunder From Down Under at Excalibur, “Fantasy” at the Luxor, “X Burlesque” at the Flamingo and more, taking it off to keep bachelor and bachelorette parties happy.
The world’s top DJs who call Las Vegas a resident home weren’t even mentioned, but they are absolutely part of the headliner list. Who’s your favorite headliner in Las Vegas? Voting for the 2016 Best of Las Vegas begins today at BestofLasVegas.com. You’ve got some tough choices to make in the Headliner Capital of the World!
