“Accelerate,” the funky lead single from Christina Aguilera’s eighth studio album, Liberation, arrived in early May and became the 37-year-old singer’s 10th No. 1 hit on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart. Surely fans and followers weren’t expecting a sugary pop gem like “Genie in a Bottle” or “What a Girl Wants,” classic tracks that made Aguilera a superstar as a teen. But “Accelerate” provided more than a spark of surprise: The New York Times called it “fantastically weird” and one of her most experimental songs yet. With contributions from hip-hop kings Ty Dolla $ign and 2 Chainz, the pulsating, rhythmic track defies categorization and reaffirms Aguilera’s dedication to pushing past pop boundaries.

“I just needed to get back to truth,” she said in the Liberation release statement. “It’s a big step to walk away from something that’s comfortable, but it can also be liberating to say, ‘OK, I’m being true to myself now. I’m back to what I feel is my God-given purpose for being on this Earth. I’m an artist. I’m a creator. ”

Her first album since 2012, Liberation has been hailed as one of the most impressive, cohesive recordings of Aguilera’s career and a true signifier of a return to music after years of focusing on motherhood and dabbling in TV and film. With 36 million album equivalents sold, 30 Billboard Hot 100 hits including five No. 1 songs and six Grammy Awards, she’s well-established as an iconic artist and one whose creative will is as strong as her famed voice.

The Liberation Tour kicked off late last month and visits Las Vegas this week with a concert at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on Oct. 27. Aguilera performed in New York City for the first time in 10 years on Oct. 3, taking over Radio City Music Hall for a two-hour set spanning her biggest hits and most exciting new material. With Hillary and Bill Clinton in the audience, Aguilera brought Lil Kim to the stage to help perform “Lady Marmalade” and soared through inspirational tracks like “Fighter” and “Fall In Line.”

Aguilera’s vocal abilities have long been compared to Mariah Carey and Whitney Houston, and her chameleonic style and image contrasted with that of Madonna and Cher. Through experimentation with electronic music, jazz, rock, soul and hip-hop, she’s emerged as an artist with her own unique sound, one that leans heavily on R&B and blues while maintaining a malleable quality that fits any format. Some observers point to her Vegas tour date as a possible test run for a future headlining residency, which makes sense considering the ever-changing Strip entertainment landscape. As we’ve seen, there are only a handful of performers that can pull it off. Aguilera is familiar with such rare spaces.

Caesars Palace, 8 p.m. Oct. 27, starting at $59 plus tax and fee. 866.320.9763