From ‘Voice’ to Vegas

When hit singing competition show The Voice returns for its 17th season on NBC in September, Gwen Stefani will be back as a coach for the first time since 2017.

The Planet Hollywood resident headliner joins boyfriend Blake Shelton along with John Legend and Kelly Clarkson to explore and cultivate another batch of vocalists, and in October Stefani will re-appear at Zappos Theater for her Just a Girl show while The Voice continues.

But you don’t have to wait until the fall to catch Stefani’s glammed-up, hit-filled version of a sparkling Las Vegas production show. The fashion icon and former No Doubt frontwoman is back on the Zappos stage July 17-26.

 

Must-See: “O”

Cirque du Soleil’s “O” is one of the most popular productions on the Las Vegas Strip when it comes to repeat visitors; it’s a magical and captivating experience that should not be limited to one viewing. If you’re looking for a different perspective, check into La Grande Expérience, a VIP ticket to “O” that offers more than great seats and special perks. It’s a customizable behind-the-scenes adventure that begins with a pre-show meet-and-greet with Cirque performers in costume before they take the stage. Champagne and hors d’oeuvres are part of the package, which allows you to observe “O” from a private suite no more than 45 feet from where the director watches the show. That’s how you do Vegas.

 

Around the Strip

Among the celebs in attendance for a buzzed-about bash unveiling the impending name change from SLS Las Vegas to Sahara Las Vegas were resident comedian Eddie Griffin, actor and host Jaymes Vaughan and actor/rapper/producer/radio and TV host Nick Cannon. Of course, the star of the show was casino owner Alex Meruelo, who presided over a flashy presentation including fireworks, 3D projection mapping video and an Intel Shooting Star drone show culminating in cheers and applause when the classic Sahara name and a classy new logo finally appeared. “Our property is just the right size to deliver the bold yet personalized experiences that made visitors first fall in love with Las Vegas,” Meruelo said.

You never know what kind of Vegas event is going to attract the famous folks. The Universal Domino League’s Las Vegas Summer Classic was held at the Palms, and comedian and TV host Steve Harvey was there to take in the action, as were actor Chris Spencer, TV personality Rocsi Diaz, upcoming Tropicana headlining illusionist Hans Klok, Tenors of Rock singers Jimmy Denning and Tommy Sherlock and more.

Grammy winner Kix Brooks, who joins Ronnie Dunn and Reba McEntire for the trio’s Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas residency show at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, recently caught Opium at the Cosmopolitan. The next night, Vegas Golden Knights fan favorite defenseman Nate Schmidt was at the comedic space odyssey and also ventured backstage for a photo.

Brock Radke is an award-winning entertainment reporter who has been covering the city since 2000, and interviews key movers and shakers on his All The Vegas podcast, available at allthevegas.com.