Las Vegas is a popular tourist destination today with more to attract people than gambling. When gambling was first legalized, it brought an influx of money into Las Vegas. Tommy Hull built the first casino in an area that came to be known as the Vegas Strip. His success brought many other businessmen to Las Vegas to build casinos. Some of the biggest names in music have performed in Las Vegas over the years at different casino resorts.
Past Las Vegas Legends
Elvis
Elvis made his first appearance in Las Vegas in 1956. Although he wasn’t an immediate success, he began performing there regularly. In 1969, a four-week residency in Las Vegas helped to revive his career.
In the 1970s, the trend of turning casinos into mega resorts started to draw many more people to Las Vegas. Music legends like Elvis were one of the attractions. Today, U.S. online gambling is legal in various states, but it isn’t legal in Nevada where brick-and-mortar casino resorts are so popular.
Liberace
Liberace was a popular performer in Las Vegas in the 1950s and 1960s. He became one of the highest-paid stars and his flamboyant style and elaborate costumes earned him the title “Mr. Showmanship.” He had a long-running residency at the Las Vegas Hilton and the Strip continues to celebrate his legacy.
Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra had a major impact on the music scene in Las Vegas. You can still follow in his footsteps in iconic spots like the Golden Steer Steakhouse and Champagne’s café.
Living legends
Celine Dion
Celine Dion has been a Las Vegas mainstay. Her initial residency at Caesars Palace took place from 2003 to 2007 and is considered one of the most successful of its kind. She had a second residency from 2011 to 2019 and would have had a third if it wasn’t for ill health.
Donny and Marie Osmond
The brother and sister had a very successful residency that ran for 11 years, from 2007 to 2019. In this time, they performed in nearly 2,000 shows.
Cher
Cher performed in Las Vegas hundreds of times and completed three residencies. Her performances were always elaborate with dancers, glitz, and some spectacular costumes.
Elton John
Elton John has performed in Las Vegas over 400 times. He had two residencies from 2004 to 2009 and from 2011 to 2018. People loved the high-energy shows of this amazing musician and performer.
Britney Spears
Britney Spears launched a very successful residency in Las Vegas in 2013 at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino. It ran for four years. There were rumors of a second residency in 2019 but it didn’t happen and Spears has no plans for another residency despite speculation.
Lady Gaga
Lady Gaga had a residency in Vegas that started in 2018 and it ended in 2023 after a long hiatus due to the pandemic. She is currently number 12 on the Billboard list of top musicians at present. The list also includes Taylor Swift, Bruno Mars, Teddy Swims, Chapell Roan, Bad Bunny, Billie Eilish, Sabrina Carpenter, and Kendrick Lamar.
Jennifer Lopez
Jennifer Lopez started a Las Vegas residency in January 2016 that ran for about two years. It was one of the highest-grossing residencies. Lopez stopped in Las Vegas in 2024 during her This is Me … Now tour.
Adam Levine
Adam Levine is a musician, entrepreneur, and frontman of Maroon 5, a Grammy-winning band. In Adam Levine’s performances in Las Vegas during a residency that ran from March 2023, the singer said he was surprised by how much he enjoyed it. The band tore down the house with its energetic tracks.
