Luxe Life Blog
Strip Scribbles: Jackie Evancho’s first full-length album debuts at No. 2
Jackie Evancho rehearses for David Foster & Friends at Mandalay Bay Events Center on Oct. 15, 2010.
Photo: Tom Donoghue/DonoghuePhotography.com
Tiny Jackie Evancho, the young singer who stunned audiences on last year’s America’s Got Talent and finished second to hometown hero Michael Grimm, has released her first full-length album Dream With Me. Her rushed Christmas EP went platinum -- this one debuted on the Billboard 200 album charts at No. 2 behind an EP by Eminem.
Jackie, now 11, appeared at Mandalay Bay in her first public shows after AGT on hit man David Foster’s PBS special David Foster & Friends. David, who is the genius behind hits by superstars Celine Dion, Whitney Houston and Barbra Streisand, said: “Talk about the voice of an angel. I’ve never heard a mature voice like this in all my years. It’s just amazing.”
*My pal Ron Dante, Barry Manilow’s record producer, has a new singing discovery on his hands: 19-year-old beauty Brooke Toia from Queensland, Australia. She arrives here today on a first-ever Las Vegas visit and over the weekend has front-row seats for Barry’s show at the Paris, plus Celine at Caesars Palace and Jersey Boys at the Palazzo. She stays on to start recording her new CD with Ron this summer.
*Final Nielsen ratings have been released for the 2011 Miss USA Pageant this month at Planet Hollywood and broadcast on NBC. Owner Donald Trump and President Paula Shugart emailed me this morning to say in the less traditional pageant demos, 56 percent more men ages 18 to 49 and 42 percent more men 25 to 54 watched this year’s show, and in every other ranking, the jumps were 11 to 66 percent -- the best ever.
Mark Scanlon married his girlfriend Katie at Chapel of the Flowers.
*Congratulations to UFC welterweight fighter Mark Scanlon, who married his girlfriend Katie at the Chapel of the Flowers downtown, and here’s a photo they gave us after the beautiful and intimate ceremony shared with their baby son Mark Jr. in the Victorian Chapel there. Mark, from Liverpool, England, won seven consecutive fights before losing to Pascal Krauss in UFC 122.
*An exhibit focused on David Copperfield’s incredible entertainment career has opened in Paris. French writer Benoit Grenier, who has written a biography of the MGM Grand headliner, worked on the project at the Musee de la Magie in the French capital. Magic magazine publisher Stan Lee reports that Benoit told him: “The exhibition shows various aspects of David’s life and career. It features programs, posters, memorabilia, previously unseen photos, and original costumes and props.”
Mims at LAX at the Luxor on June 29, 2011.
Star Surveillance
Talk show host Ellen DeGeneres and her partner Portia de Rossi were accompanied by health and wellness guru and author Kathy Freston for a vegan dinner last night at Sinatra in Steve Wynn’s Encore. … Kanye West’s ex-girlfriend Amber Rose is now linked to rapper Wiz Khalifa. The stunning model watched his show at The Joint at the Hard Rock Hotel. Amber grabbed a quick bite solo at Johnny Smalls and then hung out backstage with him. … Rapper Mims took center stage at LAX in the Luxor last night and performs his hits “Like This” and “This Is Why I’m Hot.” After the 30-minute concert, he partied at a VIP table onstage next to the DJ booth and walked the club to chat with fans and pose for photos until early this morning.
Wiz Khalifa at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel.
Tonight’s Tips
Sexy, sultry singer Estelle performs at Haze in Aria and presents a $5,000 prize to the hottest girl of the night, and funnymen Ian Bagg from Comedy Central and Ryan Hamilton from Last Comic Standing start a three-night run at Playboy Comedy Lounge at the Palms.
Chris Bosh and Criss Angel.
Tomorrow’s Tease
It’s a grand Fourth of July holiday weekend, and we have a preview of all the stars, parties and fireworks. Have magician Criss Angel and gossip guru Perez Hilton patched up their ugly feud and become unlikely best buddies? We also will have a preview of the stunning Tropic Beauty contestants competing in their backless bikinis at Wet Republic at MGM Grand as part of the UFC 132 fight weekend activities.
Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.
Follow Robin Leach on Twitter at Twitter.com/Robin_Leach.
Follow Vegas DeLuxe on Twitter at Twitter.com/vegasdeluxe.
Follow VDLX Editor Don Chareunsy on Twitter at Twitter.com/VDLXEditorDon.
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