Luxe Life Blog
Musical chairs: Shania arriving, Garth departing, Tim and Faith await
Shania Twain performs at Super Bowl XXXVII in San Diego on Sunday, Jan. 26, 2003.
As the country music guard changes in a game of musical chairs, Las Vegas gets ready to officially welcome Shania Twain and say a fond farewell to Garth Brooks -- with only three days separating her arrival and his departure. And Tim McGraw and Faith Hill are waiting in the wings.
Shania will literally stop Strip traffic Wednesday when she makes her grand entrance at the Strip-front fountains of Caesars Palace. The Canadian superstar starts her 2-year residency at the Colosseum on Dec. 1.
Caesars execs say they’ll transform the Strip in a way that’s never been seen, but only for the one-day welcome party. I’m told Shania is “really up for the festivities”; we posted her comments about her new show and home in Las Vegas on Oct. 22.
One of the world’s bestselling female artists of all time, Shania created her show “Still the One” with director Raj Kapoor. It promises to be a spectacular journey through Shania’s life and career with music, multisensory and visual experiences, fashion and a few surprises to be revealed opening night.
Note to Shania: Look under the glass in the dressing room because fellow Canadian headliner Celine Dion has left you a welcoming note!
GARTH’S GOODBYE
Meantime, the 3-year run of Garth in Encore Theater at the Wynn comes to an end Saturday. It seems like only yesterday that he began the run in December 2009 and hotel tycoon Steve gave with a jet to fly back and forth from his Oklahoma ranch so as not to miss his daughters’ school events.
“Steve Wynn is one of the smartest guys I have ever had the pleasure of talking to or listening to,” Garth said. “He does everything top notch and is the easiest and best boss I have ever worked for -- I just love him. … I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at Wynn. He told me the Wynn audiences were some of the best in the world, and he was right.”
Steve commented: “I have always thought of Garth as a brother, and this will always be a home for him. I’ve never stopped being amazed at his talent, nor have I ever stopped admiring the wonderful balance that he has maintained as a father and a superstar. … He is to me the rarest of all combinations: incredibly gifted and a man of great character.”
During the run, Garth’s wife, country star Trisha Yearwood, made regular appearances with him, and she’s expected for the final performance. We’ll be there, and we’ll post our final show report Sunday.
There are solid rumblings that Garth will be back at the Wynn next summer to film his one-man show for a TV special. He also has indicated that he’ll announce a tour, which would be the first since he gave up the rigors of the road to spend time with his daughters as they finished school before heading off to college.
Note to Steve: You can pick up the jet Sunday when it returns from its last flight from Oklahoma. You might need it for the show you’re developing for next year in Encore Theater.
TIM & FAITH AT VENETIAN
Finally in the country switcheroo, rehearsals are underway and plans are taking shape for Tim and Faith’s mini-residency at the Venetian. They debut Dec. 7 to mark the National Finals Rodeo from Dec. 6-15 and the Cowboy Christmas Gift Show. More than 60,000 fans are expected for NFR.
Finally, the Academy of Country Music Awards are here for a seventh year and adds a Rodeo Live Stage to the Cowboy Fan Fest with nightly shows by Chris Young, Ryan Beaver, Bucky Covington, Sarah Darling, Brett Eldredge, Jack Ingram, Chris Janson, David Nail and Aaron Watson.
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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