First-Ever Residencies From Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson & More Fueled Vegas' Biggest Year Yet
The musical landscape of the Las Vegas Strip underwent seismic changes in 2019, from Lady Gaga, Aerosmith, Cardi B, Janet Jackson and others launching residencies to Vegas icons like Céline Dion closing significant runs.
Below, take a look back at a few of the biggest highlights that fueled Vegas' biggest year yet.
Dec. 28, 2018: Lady Gaga launches Enigma, a futuristic reimagining of her greatest hits, and, on Jan. 20, Jazz & Piano, featuring classic covers. They grossed a combined $48.4 million during the shows’ first year, according to Billboard Boxscore.
Jan. 28: Wayne Newton kicks off Wayne Newton: Up Close and Personal, a cheeky evening of song and banter that celebrates his 60 years of performing in Las Vegas.
Feb. 21: Mariah Carey closes her 2019 round of The Butterfly Returns dates -- her second residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace -- with a $3.6 million gross. She'll return to the Colosseum in 2020.
April 4: After the Palms resort invested $690 million into a top-to-bottom renovation, new club KAOS opens with a star-studded celebration featuring performances from Cardi B, Travis Scott, J Balvin, Marshmello and others. The venue closed in November after internal issues.
April 6: Aerosmith opens Deuces Are Wild, the band’s hit-churning career retrospective and first-ever residency, at the Park Theater.
April 27: Backstreet Boys close their epic Larger Than Life residency, which opened at the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood in March 2017.
April 28: Omnia -- where Calvin Harris, Tiësto, Steve Aoki and other marquee DJs call home -- receives its 3 millionth guest during one of Zedd’s regular Saturday residencies.
May 17: Queen Latifah, Eve, Gabrielle Union and others turn out to support Janet Jackson on the opening night of her Metamorphosis residency at the Park Theater.
May 31: Christina Aguilera launches her Xperience residency at Zappos Theater and earns a $4 million gross from the first eight shows.
June 8: After 16 years of regular performances in Las Vegas and $681 million in combined grosses between A New Day and Céline, Céline Dion retires from the Colosseum.
Aug. 13: George Strait announces he’s extending his monthly Strait to Vegas residency at T-Mobile Arena, with dates booked through February 2020.
Aug. 14: Def Leppard opens its Sin City residency at Planet Hollywood.
Nov. 2: Gwen Stefani plays her final 2019 date for her Just a Girl residency after announcing the run will close for good in March 2020.
Nov. 16: Donny & Marie take their final bow together at the Flamingo on the closing night of their sibling act, which they performed for 11 straight years.
This article originally appeared in the Dec. 21 issue of Billboard.
