In Las Vegas, having an 11-year residency is a major accomplishment, especially for musicians and performers. The Strip is notoriously competitive, with stars constantly vying for coveted real estate on the marquees. Securing a long-term residency signifies that an artist has major draw and staying power. So who has managed to hold down a residency in Vegas for 11 years or more?
Celine Dion
The undisputed queen of Las Vegas residencies is none other than Celine Dion. The Canadian chanteuse began an epic residency at Caesars Palace in 2003, which ran for an incredible 16 years until 2019. During that time, Dion performed over 1,100 shows at the Colosseum at Caesars, generating an estimated $681 million in revenue. Though she took breaks from performing over the years, her residency still stands as one of the longest ever in Sin City. Here are some key facts about Celine Dion’s residency:
- Began in March 2003
- Performed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
- Originally a 3-year deal for 600 shows
- Extended multiple times, ultimately running 16 years
- Performed 1,141 shows in total
- Earned over $681 million in ticket sales revenue
- Ended in June 2019
Though she no longer has a Vegas show, Dion cemented her status as an icon through her legendary residency. From showstopping costumes to her powerhouse vocals, she proved her enduring star power by filling the Colosseum year after year. Dion set a new precedent for lucrative Vegas residencies that other stars clearly took note of.
Elton John
Another music legend who dominated the Vegas residency scene is Elton John. His show “The Red Piano” at Caesars Palace spanned a whopping 7 years from 2004 to 2009. John performed 241 shows during his residency run. Initially scheduled for 75 shows over three years, the residency was extended multiple times due to enormous demand. Some key facts about Elton John’s Caesars Palace residency:
- Began in February 2004
- Performed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
- Originally a 3-year deal for 75 shows
- Extended multiple times due to popularity
- Performed 241 shows in total
- Earned over $125 million in ticket sales
- Ended in April 2009
Elton John proved he was more than capable of sustaining a remarkably long residency. His dazzling costumes and flamboyant style made him a consistent draw for Caesars Palace. While 7 years pales in comparison to Celine Dion’s reign, it was still a groundbreaking achievement at the time. John’s residency paved the way for more legendary artists to settle in at Vegas casinos.
Cher
Pop diva Cher secured her own major Vegas residency from 2008 to 2011. Appropriately titled “Cher at the Colosseum,” the 3-year residency was initially contracted for 200 shows at Caesars Palace. Continued strong ticket sales and demand allowed Cher to extend her run. Over the course of her residency, she performed a whopping 192 shows. Here are the key facts on Cher’s Caesars Palace residency:
- Began in May 2008
- Performed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
- Originally a 3-year deal for 200 shows
- Extended an additional year
- Performed 192 shows in total
- Grossed over $131 million in ticket revenue
- Ended in February 2011
Cher proved that her chart-topping career had major staying power by anchoring a Las Vegas residency for nearly 3 years straight. She joined the ranks of Celine Dion and Elton John with her phenomenally successful concert run, paving the way for more of today’s icons to settle into regular gigs on the Strip.
Rod Stewart
The raspy-voiced rocker Rod Stewart also notably called Las Vegas home from 2011 to 2018. Stewart performed his hit-filled show “Rod Stewart: The Hits” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for a spectacular 7 years. He initially signed a two-year contract for 45 shows. The residency was repeatedly extended thanks to great ticket sales, culminating in over 200 shows throughout the run. Details of Rod Stewart’s residency include:
- Began in August 2011
- Performed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
- Originally contracted for 45 shows over two years
- Extended multiple times due to popularity
- Performed over 200 shows total
- Grossed approx. $53 million in ticket revenue
- Ended in August 2018
Rod Stewart was yet another music icon who realized that Vegas residencies could be extremely lucrative. By playing at The Colosseum year after year, Stewart maintained his star presence and gave fans constant opportunities to hear him live. His 7-year residency established Stewart as a Vegas legend.
Shania Twain
Country pop superstar Shania Twain kicked off an epic two-year Las Vegas residency back in 2012. Her show “Shania: Still the One” at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace ultimately ran for two years instead of the originally planned one year. The residency concluded with a whopping 105 shows total. Key details on Shania Twain’s residency are:
- Began in December 2012
- Performed at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace
- Originally contracted for just 48 shows
- Extended due to immense popularity
- Performed 105 shows total
- Grossed around $43 million in revenue
- Ended in December 2014
Though Shania Twain’s residency fell just short of the 11-year mark, it was still a major feat for a country artist to anchor a Vegas concert run. Twain continued country music’s growing presence on the Strip through her 105-show residency.
Gwen Stefani
Pop star Gwen Stefani recently concluded an ultra successful residency at the Zappos Theater in Planet Hollywood. Her show, titled “Gwen Stefani: Just a Girl” ran for an impressive 4 years from 2018 to 2022. Initially slated for only 25 shows, it was extended repeatedly due to huge ticket sales. In total, Stefani performed 48 shows during her residency. Here are the key details:
- Began in June 2018
- Performed at the Zappos Theater, Planet Hollywood
- Originally contracted for 25 shows
- Extended multiple times due to demand
- Performed 48 shows total
- Grossed around $53 million in ticket revenue
- Ended in May 2022
In just 4 short years, Gwen Stefani made her Vegas residency a huge success. She helped bring the Strip into the 2020s by setting up shop at Planet Hollywood instead of the old standby Caesars Palace. Her ticket sales show that her No Doubt and solo hits still draw big crowds.
Jennifer Lopez
One of the newest Vegas residents is Jennifer Lopez. Her residency, “Jennifer Lopez: All I Have” ran for an impressive 3 years from 2016 to 2018. Lopez performed a total of 120 shows at the Zappos Theater in Planet Hollywood. Some key details on JLo’s residency:
- Began in January 2016
- Performed at the Zappos Theater, Planet Hollywood
- Extended after 2 years for an additional year
- Performed 120 shows total
- Grossed over $101 million in revenue
- Ended September 2018
In true diva style, Jennifer Lopez made her 3-year residency a smash hit. She proved her career endurance by following up her stint in Vegas with major projects like her 2020 Super Bowl halftime show. Vegas residencies are now a natural stop for current pop queens like JLo.
Britney Spears
Not to be outdone by her pop peer Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears also landed her own huge Vegas residency in 2013. Her show “Britney: Piece of Me” centered around the Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood for an impressive 4 years. Originally slated for only 50 shows, the residency was expanded to a whopping 248 shows due to astronomical demand. Details on Britney’s Planet Hollywood residency include:
- Began in December 2013
- Performed at the Zappos Theater, Planet Hollywood
- Originally contracted for 50 shows
- Extended multiple times due to popularity
- Performed 248 shows total
- Grossed over $138 million in revenue
- Ended in December 2017
Britney Spears proved she was far from “Toxic” by dominating the Vegas residency scene for four straight years. She set a new bar for pop divas by grossing over $138 million at Planet Hollywood. Britney’s residency showed that her days as a teenage pop idol were clearly not over.
Bruno Mars
Proving that residencies aren’t just for divas, Bruno Mars also recently completed an impressive Las Vegas concert run. His show “Bruno Mars at Park MGM” lasted for 5 years from 2016 to 2021. Slated initially for only 6 shows, his residency was expanded dramatically to 169 shows due to sky-high demand. Bruno Mars residency stats include:
- Began in December 2016
- Performed at the Park MGM Theater
- Originally booked for just 6 shows
- Expanded to 169 shows over 5 years
- Grossed approximately $169 million
- Ended in January 2021
Though technically just short of 11 years, Bruno Mars made his 5-year residency a massive success. He joined contemporary stars like Britney and JLo in making Vegas a long-term event on his touring schedule. Mars proved his showmanship could anchor a multi-year residency just as well as any pop diva.
Wayne Newton
No discussion of epic Vegas residencies is complete without mentioning the legendary Wayne Newton. Nicknamed “Mr. Las Vegas,” Newton has performed over 30,000 shows in the city over the span of nearly 60 years. He is by far the longest running resident performer in Vegas history. Some amazing facts about Wayne Newton’s unparalleled residency include:
- Began performing regularly in Vegas in 1959
- Has performed over 30,000 Vegas shows
- Residency has spanned over 55 years so far
- Performed at multiple hotels over the years
- Currently performs at Caesars Palace
- Earned the nickname “Mr. Las Vegas”
- Holds the record for most Vegas shows by any performer
For sheer longevity, no one comes close to Wayne Newton’s lifelong residency in Las Vegas. He is essentially synonymous with the entertainment scene in the city. Newton set the gold standard for anchoring multi-decade residencies on the Strip long before the recent divas made it trendy.
Conclusion
In Las Vegas, having a residency lasting 11 or more years signifies incredible superstardom. Only the most legendary performers can withstand the test of time and remain popular enough to anchor years of shows in the same venue. Celine Dion is the undisputed queen of residencies, with an unbeatable 16-year run at Caesars Palace. Elton John, Cher, Rod Stewart, Shania Twain, Gwen Stefani, Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Bruno Mars, and Wayne Newton are other icons who have cemented their place in Vegas show history with multi-year concert runs. Securing an 11-year or longer residency in Las Vegas puts an artist in the highest echelon of entertainment elite.