With this week's shocker that Celine Dion would be cancelling the rest of her shows at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace, we started to wonder: Who will fill the residency void? The beloved Canadian songstress boasts a lifetime of experience, a legion of diehard fans and album sales numbers that'll make your eyes pop out—not to mention those powerhouse pipes. She's a tough act to follow, but we thought of a few artists who have the right stuff to take on the task:
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Tom Waits
Tom Waits
Yeah, yeah, yeah, we know, it'll never happen. Waits has never played Las Vegas (if the Smith Center can't get him, who can?), but this is the city where dreams are realized. We can't imagine a much bigger dream than three hours of Tin Pan Alley goodness by the guy who epitomizes cool. I'd go every week. —Ken Miller
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Adele performs at Chelsea at the Cosmopolitan on Aug. 20, 2011.
Adele
She might not have a career that spans decades—yet—but with deeply heartfelt lyrics and a soulful voice that she controls so well, she has won the hearts of many across the globe. Just look to her multi-platinum debut (19) and sophomore (21) albums for proof.
That should translate into near-sell-outs (if not complete ones) at the Colosseum, and we know from her sold-out 2011 Vegas debut at the Cosmopolitan’s Chelsea ballroom that she has no problem commanding a large venue’s stage. She might not have an extensive catalogue to pull from like other Strip headliners, but why don’t we play a little game called “Count the Hits”? And with some British wit and charming anecdotes about songwriting inspiration (and her dachshund Louis!), she’ll transform the arena experience into an intimate affair. Perfection. —Mark Adams
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Leonard Cohen at the Colosseum December 10, 2010.
Leonard Cohen
The Colosseum has been home to a handful of class-act singers, but none as full of stripped-down, emotional depth as Leonard Cohen. The singer, who turns 80 in September, will commemorate his birthday with a new LP titled Popular Problems, but a residency in Vegas would make for an even better celebration. Getting the chance to hear “So Long Marianne” and “Chelsea Hotel #2” for weeks in a row? That’s something I’d pay to see again and again. —Leslie Ventura
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Bruce Springsteen, center, performs during the halftime of the NFL Super Bowl XLIII football game between the Arizona Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Steelers, Sunday, Feb. 1, 2009, in Tampa, Fla.
Bruce Springsteen
Two words: The Boss. If there's anyone who can fill the Colosseum night after night, it's this 64-year-old titan of American rock 'n' roll, who's sold more than 64 million albums in the U.S. and still looks damn good in a pair of jeans. Sure, he could stadium hop for the rest of his performing days, but a Colosseum residency would allow him production value that just isn't possible on the road. Plus, there's really nothing more American than Bruce Springsteen, except maybe Las Vegas, which is why this match makes so much sense. —Sarah Feldberg
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Beyonce’s “Mrs. Carter Show” world tour returned to MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday, Dec. 6, 2013.
Beyoncé
She killed it during her Mrs. Carter Show tour stops at MGM Grand and the earlier I Am…Yours shows at Wynn, and a Beyoncé Vegas residency could bring some much-needed soul to Strip entertainment. —Brock Radke
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Fleetwood Mac performs at MGM Grand Garden Arena on Monday, Dec. 30, 2013, in Las Vegas.
Fleetwood Mac
There have been many eras, but with Christine McVie back in the band and a new album in the works that reportedly gives even its makers chills, it’s the perfect time for Fleetwood Mac to bring some gravitas to the Strip. Let them tour the world, then bring them to Caesars' elegant room, where there's space enough to hold all the ways they haunt us.—Erin Ryan
