Since Terry Fator took the top prize in the second season on America’s Got Talent in 2007, the popular reality TV competition—heading into its 13th season next month—has consistently offered a chance to become a Las Vegas headliner as part of that championship prize package.
And yet few AGT winners have approached Fator’s level of Las Vegas success. Season 9 winner Mat Franco stars in his own show at The Linq, but the friendly, sleight-of-hand illusionist is the only performer who comes close to Fator, a ventriloquist, impressionist, comedian and singer from Dallas who is currently celebrating nine years as one of the Las Vegas Strip’s favorite headliners at The Mirage.
One of the reasons Fator’s show is so beloved: He’s always making changes, adding new elements and keeping it fresh. He’ll typically incorporate a new character into his act every year, but last month he unveiled two new puppets that actually perform together—Michael Jackson and Paul McCartney. The King of Pop appears first to sing a medley of his biggest hits before the legendary Beatle joins him onstage for a duet of “The Girl is Mine” from Jackson’s classic 1982 album Thriller. Fator’s ability to bounce between voices during this ambidextrous puppeteering performance is impressive to say the least.
Terry Fator
“I’ve been wanting to add more real-life celebrities to the show as my audiences are coming from all over the world,” Fator said after a special anniversary show that attracted loads of his fellow Vegas entertainers to The Mirage. “Music truly is that universal language.”
Of course, other recent additions to the show—dubbed Terry Fator: The Voice of Entertainment presents Terry Fator Tonight because it’s built on Fator’s childhood habit of staging his own talk show with stuffed animals as guests—are still among the musical and comedy highlights. Sir Elton John performs a joyful assortment of classic tunes, while President Donald Trump, out from under a flailing mess of shocking blonde hair, inserts himself into some well-known songs, naturally.
Fator’s talents allow him to create a show that really feels like a collection of different characters and performances—you’ll forget that he’s just one man singing and entertaining. His original characters show off his more creative side, from the favorite Winston the Impersonating Turtle (a cute and cuddly creature with an incredible vocal range, with a little help from his friend Fator) to Walter T. Airdale, a country music legend who sings a little George Strait and talks a lot about his ex-wives. Julius gives Fator a little lesson in soul, and 12-year-old Emma Taylor teases Fator with text messages before he sings her a song by Ed Sheeran and wins her favor.
No matter which puppet is singing alongside him, Fator keeps the music and fun coming fast and furious. He may have become a household name when he won America’s Got Talent, but he’s grown into a Strip standard-bearer, truly a distinct voice in Las Vegas entertainment.
The Mirage, 7:30 p.m. Mon.-Thurs., $59.99-$149.99 MVP Experience, plus tax and fee, 5+. 702.792.7777
