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Exclusive: Celine Dion flying to L.V. earlier than planned for rehearsals, baptism
By Robin Leach
More than 200 uniformed Caesars Palace employees will welcome back superstar Celine Dion to her Las Vegas home Wednesday afternoon. They will line the front fountains entrance shortly after she touches down at McCarran Airport after taping The Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago, which airs Feb. 21.
Celine will be with her manager husband Rene Angelil, their son Rene-Charles and the new twins Nelson and Eddy, now nearly 5 months old. They have set March 5 as the date for the baptism of the twins here. Celine’s sister Linda, Rene-Charles and Rene’s sons Patrick and Jean-Pierre and daughter Ann-Marie from his two previous marriages will be the godparents.
“Caesars Palace is thrilled to welcome Celine’s fans from all over the world,” Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner said. “I can’t overstate the excitement among our team members, guests and partners, all of whom consider Celine and her husband Rene special members of the Caesars Palace family.”
The Canadian songbird has been rehearsing the new Hollywood music-themed show at her Florida home, while the 31 musicians of her orchestra began rehearsals here Jan. 17. However, because of the Oprah taping, Celine decided to fly here earlier than planned. She was originally scheduled to arrive the first week of March, giving her two weeks of rehearsals before the March 15 gala opening premiere
She expects to start rehearsals Thursday and has decided to live at the casino resort -- coincidentally in the Oprah Winfrey penthouse suite -- until her new show is running perfectly. Then the family will move into their home at Lake Las Vegas.
“I’m coming back home to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and I’m very excited about it,” Celine said. “With the orchestra and the band, we’re going to be able to perform our songs like never before. The repertoire is going to be extraordinary ... a mix of timeless Hollywood classics, along with all the favorites that my fans like to hear me sing. It’s going to be a very beautiful show, and I think we’ll be raising the bar higher than we’ve ever done before. There’ll be some truly wonderful moments. … I can’t wait!”
Her surprise arrival Wednesday is expected to attract a media mob of TV cameras, photographers and reporters, many of whom also are covering the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition models who arrive the same day, but early morning. Those glamour girls will be at the nearby Monte Carlo at the same time Wednesday watching a performance by the Jabbawockeez at Diablo’s Cantina.
It is Celine’s first return to Las Vegas since her New Day closed at Caesars Palace on Dec. 15, 2007, after a 5-year run of more than 700 shows for 3 million people. The show was one of the all-time highest-grossing concerts in music history, amassing more than $400 million in box office tickets. Celine originally signed for three years but extended for two more because of the success.
Her show is contracted for three years, as well. Tickets have been an even bigger success than the earlier show, with many shows through the first 54 performances through Aug. 14 sold out. Hundreds of fans from all over have booked special travel packages from airlines and tour operators for Celine’s new residency.
Over the weekend, I was reliably told: “Celine singlehandedly can help put Las Vegas back on the map again. Her presence at Caesars brings back excitement to the entire Strip. She will benefit everybody on The Strip, including the rival hotels.”
“We are truly excited about the return of the Female Artist of the Decade,” said John Meglen, president and co-CEO of AEG Live/Concerts West, who along with Gary will be part of the welcoming contingent Wednesday. “Celine’s impact on the entertainment standard in Las Vegas is the bar all others compare to. We look forward to her return to The Colosseum. We are excited about continuing our success with Caesars Palace and are optimistic on the future of Las Vegas.”
By Robin Leach
More than 200 uniformed Caesars Palace employees will welcome back superstar Celine Dion to her Las Vegas home Wednesday afternoon. They will line the front fountains entrance shortly after she touches down at McCarran Airport after taping The Oprah Winfrey Show in Chicago, which airs Feb. 21.
Celine will be with her manager husband Rene Angelil, their son Rene-Charles and the new twins Nelson and Eddy, now nearly 5 months old. They have set March 5 as the date for the baptism of the twins here. Celine’s sister Linda, Rene-Charles and Rene’s sons Patrick and Jean-Pierre and daughter Ann-Marie from his two previous marriages will be the godparents.
“Caesars Palace is thrilled to welcome Celine’s fans from all over the world,” Caesars Palace President Gary Selesner said. “I can’t overstate the excitement among our team members, guests and partners, all of whom consider Celine and her husband Rene special members of the Caesars Palace family.”
The Canadian songbird has been rehearsing the new Hollywood music-themed show at her Florida home, while the 31 musicians of her orchestra began rehearsals here Jan. 17. However, because of the Oprah taping, Celine decided to fly here earlier than planned. She was originally scheduled to arrive the first week of March, giving her two weeks of rehearsals before the March 15 gala opening premiere
She expects to start rehearsals Thursday and has decided to live at the casino resort -- coincidentally in the Oprah Winfrey penthouse suite -- until her new show is running perfectly. Then the family will move into their home at Lake Las Vegas.
“I’m coming back home to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, and I’m very excited about it,” Celine said. “With the orchestra and the band, we’re going to be able to perform our songs like never before. The repertoire is going to be extraordinary ... a mix of timeless Hollywood classics, along with all the favorites that my fans like to hear me sing. It’s going to be a very beautiful show, and I think we’ll be raising the bar higher than we’ve ever done before. There’ll be some truly wonderful moments. … I can’t wait!”
Her surprise arrival Wednesday is expected to attract a media mob of TV cameras, photographers and reporters, many of whom also are covering the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition models who arrive the same day, but early morning. Those glamour girls will be at the nearby Monte Carlo at the same time Wednesday watching a performance by the Jabbawockeez at Diablo’s Cantina.
It is Celine’s first return to Las Vegas since her New Day closed at Caesars Palace on Dec. 15, 2007, after a 5-year run of more than 700 shows for 3 million people. The show was one of the all-time highest-grossing concerts in music history, amassing more than $400 million in box office tickets. Celine originally signed for three years but extended for two more because of the success.
Her show is contracted for three years, as well. Tickets have been an even bigger success than the earlier show, with many shows through the first 54 performances through Aug. 14 sold out. Hundreds of fans from all over have booked special travel packages from airlines and tour operators for Celine’s new residency.
Over the weekend, I was reliably told: “Celine singlehandedly can help put Las Vegas back on the map again. Her presence at Caesars brings back excitement to the entire Strip. She will benefit everybody on The Strip, including the rival hotels.”
“We are truly excited about the return of the Female Artist of the Decade,” said John Meglen, president and co-CEO of AEG Live/Concerts West, who along with Gary will be part of the welcoming contingent Wednesday. “Celine’s impact on the entertainment standard in Las Vegas is the bar all others compare to. We look forward to her return to The Colosseum. We are excited about continuing our success with Caesars Palace and are optimistic on the future of Las Vegas.”
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Her voice will be in pristine tip-top shape come March 15th. 
CELINE IS A BEAST!!! SHE RULESS! 
