Shelton opens Ole Red with special guest
BLAKE SHELTON understands the concept of the Vegas drop-in. “We have a guest,” Shelton said at his Ole Red Las Vegas honky-tonk Tuesday night. “This is Las Vegas. You have to have a special guest.
One who didn’t need an introduction. Shelton’s wife and pop superstar Gwen Stefani took the stage to an ample roar of 400 invited guests and lucky fans who nabbed tickets online.
The cheers subsided so the crowd could sing along.
Shelton’s performance, and Stefani’s unbilled arrival, celebrated the club’s grand opening, though it opened for business in January.
This was the second Shelton-stefani duet since the club opened. The two appeared together on Feb. 10, Super Bowl Eve, as we have called it.
Asked Wednesday if he might step on stage one day with No Doubt, and create a “Ska Country” or “Country Ska” fusion, Shelton said, “The thing with No Doubt, people have been waiting long enough just to see those four back together. Probably seeing me with those four isn’t high on anybody’s list.”
As in February, the two teamed on “Nobody But
You.” Shelton then told the crowd, “Gwen was over at Coachella last weekend, then she flew to Nashville for a wedding, and she’s been a trouper and wanted to be here tonight to celebrate this grand opening.”
Stefani pointed to a trio of particularly inspired fans at the edge of the stage, saying, “These three girls are my girls.” Shelton added, “We share custody of these girls.”
The two then sang Shelton’s “Happy Anywhere,” with the lively lyric, “You’re always my destination.
You’re the only thing that I’m chained to. I could be happy anywhere. I could be happy anywhere with you.”
Ole Red, on this occasion, was the anywhere.
Hart goes age-specific
Kevin Hart is 44, and acting it. His new show at Resorts World Theatre will prove as much.
The Mark Twain Award honoree is back at Resorts World Theatre with “Acting My Age,” two performances July 12 and 14. The shows are on sale 10 a.m. Friday at Axs.com (presales starting 10 a.m. Wednesday). More information about the performances is at rwlasvegas. com/entertainment.
Hart starred in an eightshow run, “The Reality Check Tour,” in 2022-23. That series was the No. 1 comedy tour of 2022, according to Billboard, which also named him the country’s highest-grossing comedian of the year in ’23.
Hart promises new material at the Resorts World shows. No phones, smartwatches or recording devices are allowed in the performances.
‘I Am’ in June
The Celine Dion documentary is set for a summer premiere.
“I Am: Celine Dion” is due to begin streaming June 25 on Prime Video, the superstar announced on social media Monday. The doc offers Dion’s worldwide following a glimpse into her battle with Stiff Person Syndrome.
Oscar-nominated filmmaker Irene Taylor directs.
Dion’s plans to return to live performance remain unannounced. Representatives for AEG Presents in Las Vegas, which books Resorts World Theatre, have not commented about the documentary’s release schedule.
Dion has appeared sporadically in public over the past few months, leading to speculation and optimism she might return to the stage as early as the end of this year. But that information is not confirmed.
‘Motownphilly’ to Cosmo
More than a decade after premiering a hit residency on the Strip, Boyz II Men are back with four shows at the Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan.
The top-selling R&B group ever is returning to Las Vegas from Aug. 23, 24, 30 and 31. Robin Thicke is the series’ special guest. Tickets go on sale 10 a.m. Saturday at ticketmaster.com, cosmopolitanlasvegas.com or by calling 800745-3000 (fan club members will have access to a pre-sale beginning 10 a.m. Thursday).
Boyz II Men starred at The Mirage from 2013-19, the residency’s final scheduled shows in March 2020 were cut because of COVID. Shawn Stockman, Nate Morris and Wanya Morris make up the group’s current lineup.
Boyz II Men has performed such classics as “End of the Road,” “I’ll Make Love to You,” “One Sweetday,” and “Motownphilly,” the latter hit a nod to the band’s Philadelphia roots and Motown sound.
Cool Hang Alert
Singer-songwriter Bruce Cockburn, a legend in Canada who is considered akin to Bob Dylan in that country, plays Myron’s at the Smith Center on April 25. Cockburn is 78, but still sounds amazing in this solo format. Smith Center PR rep (but I’ll always know him as a journo) Spencer Patterson says his work is “pretty intense and awesome,” so we’ll go with that. Got to Smithcenterlv. com for intel.