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Carrie Underwood Says Goodbye To Las Vegas

Author Carla Rea
Carrie Underwood Says Goodbye To Las Vegas Residency

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But not forever. Carrie Underwood is saying goodbye to Las Vegas — at least for now.

Carrie Underwood Is One Of The Most Successful American Idol Winners

Twenty years ago, Carrie Underwood left Oklahoma in hopes of becoming the next American Idol. She did it. She won season 4. That was the beginning of what would be an amazing career.

She has sold more than 85 million records globally (second to only Kelly Clarkson) and in 2021, she kicked off Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency at the Resorts World Theatre at Resorts World Las Vegas. In a post on Instagram this week, Underwood announced that she would wrap up her residency after four very successful years.

Carrie Underwood Adds Three Dates To End Her Las Vegas Residency

Carrie Underwood has tacked a few more dates on to Reflection, but she says that this will indeed be the end. In a post on Instagram, she said, “These past three years have gone by so fast!  I’ve had the absolute best time.  Thank you to all the fans . . . we look forward to seeing more of you at our final shows next year.”

Here are the remaining dates for Carrie Underwood’s Reflection residency:

For 2024:

  • October 16, 18, 19
  • October 23, 25, 26

For 2025:

  • March 26, 28, 29
  • April 2, 4, 5
  • April 9, 11, 12 (new dates)

And Now Back To American Idol

Next up for Carrie Underwood? She will be joining Lionel Richie and Luke Bryan as a judge on American Idol.

It’s a full-circle moment for Underwood, and in my opinion – it’s about time. I had always hoped that one of the actual, and successful, winners would one day come back as a judge. It makes sense.

She told OK magazine that she would be “honest and constructive, but still kind.” And she says that’s the whole point, right? “Because people are coming in and it’s dreams. You’re part of somebody’s story from that moment on.”

The original judges sure made Carrie Underwood’s dream come true, and she has had a very storied career. Now she is ready to make it happen for another unknown.

If you’d like to see one of Carrie Underwood’s final shows in Las Vegas, you can get tickets here.

Carla Rea is the morning show co-host on “The Mike and Carla Morning Show" on 96.3 KKLZ, in Las Vegas. She has been working with her partner and friend Mike O'Brian for the past 25 plus years. At KKLZ for 12 years. Carla Rea is a Gracie Award winner. She started out in talk radio, "when talk radio was still fun" Rea says. Prior to, and along with doing the morning show, Carla is also a comedian. You may have seen her on Conan O'Brien, Evening at The Improv, Showtime, or several comedy clubs across the country. Carla also worked as a light feature reporter at KSNV/NBC Las Vegas, going behind the scenes at various shows, and restaurants on the Las Vegas strip. As a content creator 96.3 KKLZ, Carla writes in a sarcastic, cheeky, unapologetic way on Las Vegas, movies, TV, celebrities, and this thing we call life.

Top 5 Las Vegas Residencies That Made Millions

Las Vegas Residencies. They have been a thing since the very early days of Las Vegas. Although they really weren’t called that, until more recently.

Las Vegas Residencies Were The Norm Back In Early Days

Frank Sinatra, The Rat Pack, Don Rickles, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, Liberace. Comedians like Shecky Greene, Pat Cooper, and Rich Little. They all did weeks at a time, and then more weeks, in Las Vegas lounges, and what they called main rooms, or big rooms.

My own father’s group, The Gaylords (later, Gaylord & Holiday), worked weeks at a time in Las Vegas at The Dunes, The Sands, The Riviera, The Flamingo, and the now defunct Tropicana. That was commonplace in old Vegas in the 50’s and 60’s.

Las Vegas Welcomed Blockbuster Headliners In The 70’s And 80’s

The big headliners started working those main showrooms in the 70’s and 80’s. Tom Jones, Englebert, Elvis, Cher, Dolly, Kenny Rogers, Wayne Newton, George Carlin, Jay Leno.

They would do a weekend maybe every few months, if you were lucky, and that was it. So you had to get those tickets fast, or you might not see them again.

In the later 80′ early 90’s, the Las Vegas entertainment landscape started to change. Bigger, and newer names started playing Las Vegas.

The Concert Scene Begins in Las Vegas

The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, U2, REM, Pearl Jam, Nirvana, Def Leppard, and Alanis. Concerts became the thing, And now, bigger rooms were being built, and filling with people.

The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel was built. The House of Blues was built. The Aladdin Theater was built, and re-built. The Thomas and Mack Center. All doing concerts now, which was a little new to Las Vegas.

The Las Vegas Residency Is Back

The Las Vegas residency truly became a thing when the one and only, Celine Dion, began what would become a years long residency, at Caesars Palace.

Celine did two blockbuster residencies at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace and they were both a massive success. Her residency went on to solidify what is now a big thing in Las Vegas.

Although I still personally question whether you can call it a residency when it is broken up, and only a day or two is done every few weeks. But it is, and they are huge.

Here are the biggest money-making residencies Las Vegas has seen over the years.

  • 1. Celine Dion - A New Day: $565 Million

    Celine Dion – A New Day ran 2003 – 2007. The residency was at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, which was completely re-built for the show. The residency did over 700 shows, and Celine sang her biggest hits, as only she could. Including the beast, ‘My Heart Will Go On’, from Titanic. In total, the residency generated over $565.7 million in revenue.  

    5 Las Vegas Residencies That Made Millions

  • 2. Celine Dion - Celine: $352.7 Million

    This was Celine Dion’s second concert residency. Also at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace. This one ran eight years from 2011 to 2019, generating over $352.7 million dollars. Celine performed almost 430 shows throughout this residency.  Between her two residencies, almost 1200 shows!

    5 Las Vegas Residencies That Made Millions

  • U2: Achtung Baby Live At The Sphere - $244 million

    The MSG Sphere opened in Las Vegas in September of 2023, with U2. It was a spectacular show, and event, that ran September – early March of 2023. 40 performances, over $244.5 million. U2’s played their biggest hits, including ‘With or Without You’, ‘Beautiful Day’ and ‘I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For’. 

    5 Las Vegas Residencies That Made Millions

  • Elton John: The Red Piano: $240 Million

    Also at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Elton John did 248 shows, in a five year run, that began in 2004. The show made $240 million. He began the “Million Dollar Piano” in 2011, and that ran through 2018.

    5 Las Vegas Residencies That Made Millions

     

  • Britney Spears: Piece Of Me: $170 Million

    Britney Spears began a residency at Planet Hollywood in 2013. Like Britney or not, it fired things up as far as residencies in Las Vegas went. Britney brought it! To the tune of over 170 million dollars. Because she’s Britney, bi***!

    5 Las Vegas Residencies That Made Millions

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