Pop megastar Kelly Clarkson's Las Vegas residency suffered a poor beginning as she canceled its first opening night a couple of days before performance time.
Last Friday was meant to be the debut of "Kelly Clarkson: Studio Sessions – The Las Vegas Residency" at Caesars Palace. Yet, she posted on social media she'd been compelled to postpone both weekend concerts in an effort to save her voice.
Key takeaways
- Kelly Clarkson postponed her Vegas residency due to vocal strain from intense rehearsals.
- The two shows were to be held at Caesars Palace, Las Vegas.
- At the same time, Caesars pledged $5 million to an LGBTQ+ health center to support its Times Square casino bid.
She said preparations and rehearsals took their toll on her voice and she made a difficult decision to rest instead of taking a permanent risk.
Clarkson reassured followers it was only a temporary delay and vowed future productions would be high quality, promising a spectacular experience to come once production gets underway next weekend.
Fans of the pop star likened the last-minute cancelation to that of U.K. singer Adele's last-minute termination of her Vegas residency in 2022, which also came on opening weekend.
Visitor volumes down for Vegas over long weekend
Word of the rescheduled Clarkson residency emerged as Las Vegas struggled with a sustained visitor decline, which inevitably bled into the Fourth of July holiday weekend.
While it hasn't released figures, the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority (LVCVA) projected fewer visitors and filled rooms than last year.
According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, LVCVA Research Center Director Kevin Bagger predicted 340,000 visitors throughout the three-day holiday weekend, a slight decrease from 344,000 visitors in 2024. He also projected occupancy on Friday would be 93.1%, a slight decline from the 94.4% last year.
Even with fewer visitors, direct visitor spending was expected to rise due to inflation and rising costs of goods and services. The LVCVA expected direct tourist spending to rise by 3.7% to a total of $449.5 million compared to last year.
Nonetheless, the aggregate economic contribution should drop by 0.2% to $715.7 million.
Caesars wagers $5M on LGBTQ+ Center for public health in NYC casino dispute
With slips in Vegas, New York is becoming a hotter topic.
The Caesars Palace Times Square casino development group publicly committed to a $5 million investment in Callen-Lorde Community Health Center ahead of its bid for a New York City casino license.
If received, the grant would commit $2 million to existing Chelsea services at Callen-Lorde and $3 million to building a new Center for Excellence in Sexual Health in Hell's Kitchen. This program aims to expand access to emergency HIV and STI care among underserved LGBTQ+ communities.
This is the latest version of a disputed plan meant to quell resistance. Opponents, including the Broadway League, a list of labor groups, and local establishments, believe a casino would spell trouble for traffic and New York's theater district economy.
Proponents, however, say the small casino footprint will boost, not compete with, local hotels and restaurants.
