Taylor Hicks To Play Resident Show In Las Vegas This Summer

By On 04/20/2012 · 67 Comments · In American Idol, Taylor Hicks

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Congratulations to Taylor Hicks! He’s just signed on for an 8 week engagement headlining at Bally’s Las Vegas.  The Season 5 winner’s stint begins Tuesday, June 26. He’ll play the The Indigo at Bally’s Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m.

Read the press release below for more information.

“American Idol” Winner to Launch Limited Engagement Resident Show in The Indigo at Bally’s This Summer

As announced on “American Idol” last night, Taylor Hicks, winner of the show’s fifth season, will have an eight-week engagement headlining at Bally’s Las Vegas beginning Tuesday, June 26, 2012. Hicks will play in The Indigo at Bally’s Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings at 7 p.m.

Ticket prices are $29.99 and $59.99, which includes a meet and greet with Hicks. Additional service fees apply. Advance ticket sales begin Saturday, April 21 at 10 a.m. and are available by calling (888) 746-7784 or (702) 777-7776, and will be available in person at the Bally’s Box Office and online at www.ballyslasvegas.com beginning Tuesday, May 15.

Hicks becomes the first “American Idol” winner or finalist to secure a residency in Las Vegas, a testament to his talent and staying power as one of the show’s most beloved stars. It is also a sort of homecoming, as Las Vegas is where Hicks’ journey to fame began. He was in New Orleans the night before Hurricane Katrina. With his flight cancelled, he was given a free airplane voucher. Hicks used the ticket to travel to Las Vegas, where coincidentally “American Idol” auditions were being held.

Hicks says, “A residency in Las Vegas is one of those opportunities an entertainer dreams about. Vegas is where Sinatra’s Rat Pack and America’s greatest talents make musical history. To join those ranks is both humbling and thrilling. My goal is to live up to that legacy of live showmanship.”

“It’s not every day that a property on the Las Vegas Strip can announce that an ‘American Idol’ winner will be a headlining act. We are very excited to welcome Taylor to Bally’s,” said David Hoenemeyer, president of Bally’s Las Vegas. “Taylor won the hearts of fans across America when he competed on ‘American Idol,’ and I am sure that he will have just as many fans among our property’s guests.”

Taylor Hicks is one of the most beloved “American Idol” winners of all-time.

From the start, Taylor’s material on “American Idol” set him apart, with a unique take on southern soul, R & B, country and blues. More than 63 million votes were cast and nearly 37 million viewers tuned in to crown Hicks the Season 5 winner of “American Idol,” making it one of the most watched television events of the decade. The applause hasn’t stopped since he stepped off that stage. Less than three weeks after Hicks’ Idol win, his debut single, “Do I Make You Proud,” entered at #1 on Billboard’s Hot 100, Pop 100 and Single Sales charts. Coinciding with the single release, a cover story named Hicks as People Magazine’s “Hottest Bachelor of the Year.”

His self-titled album, “Taylor Hicks” (Arista), debuted #2 on the Billboard 200 and was quickly certified RIAA platinum.

Since winning Idol, Hicks has performed with the likes of Willie Nelson, Snoop Dog, Gladys Knight, Earth Wind and Fire and The Allman Brothers, has appeared in concerts worldwide and penned a brisk-selling Random House autobiography, “Heart Full of Soul.”

On Broadway, Hicks starred in the hit musical, “Grease” as Teen Angel, and when asked to join the national tour, happily agreed. The 18-month tour connected him with fans across the United States and Canada.

Hicks, who hails from Birmingham, Ala., was destined for the musical stage from an early childhood. Focusing on music full-time, he then became a fixture around the southeast, playing concerts and club dates with visiting stars like James Brown, Tom Petty, Jackson Browne, Robert Randolph, Keb’ Mo’ and Widespread Panic among others, and released two independent albums “In Your Time” and “Under The Radar.” These albums were compiled and released by Vanguard Records as “Early Works.”

For more information and updates, please visit www.ballyslasvegas.com or www.taylorhicks.com.

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  • Anonymous

    Thanks for the virtual tour…looks like an elegant room.  I don’t like the .99 on their prices…cheapens the image.  I wonder if recording is allowed in such places.

  • http://twitter.com/KariannHart Kariann Hart

    Gee, that’s too bad Taylor has followed the steps of the great Elvis Presley!  Seriously, this is just fantastic news for a terrific entertainer!  There never was a boring moment when he was on Idol! 

    About lining his pockets…made $3,000,000 one year.  His debut album went  RIAA Platnium in sales.  Nothing like a good paycheck!  I am so happy for his success!

  • Anonymous

    Congratulations to Taylor and good luck !!!, i saw videos of him on concert and looks like so much fun , i’m sure people will enjoy his show there. :D

  • Anonymous

    In Indigo Lounge’s web site, the category is indicated as “Bar”. Isn’t access to bars always free? I don’t think you need tickets to go see the artist performing in the lounge. However, you do need to call for reservations as indicated in the site as the number of tables/seats is limited.

    As someone opined earlier, cocktail lounges in Las Vegas hotels are usually open to those who get there on time to sit and drink. Those who don’t get seats can actually watch from the railing. (I’ve been in Vegas often enough to know this is an accurate observation).

    In short, this is really not a concert. This gig is typically more of a performer entertaining a bunch of high rollers passing time in between trips to the gaming tables.

  • Anonymous

    All that information you just stated is incorrect for these Taylor Hicks shows. They are official concerts.  Tickets to Taylor’s show are $29.99 and $59.99 with the later receiving a M&G after the show.  The shows are apparently a full 3 hours long – from 7pm-10pm.

    Here is the partial schedule:

    http://www.sincity-247.com/sc247_calendar//index.php?eID=6857

  • Anonymous

    Big congrats to Taylor! Taylor doing Vegas? Absolutely! Should be Wonderful.

  • luvadamlambert

    Never liked him at all,but ok I’ll go with it congrats :)

  • breakdown

    I live in Las Vegas and had actually forgotten that Ballys still exists. I just can’t imagine many people paying for this kind of open lounge that can be seen and heard from within the casino, especially at the advertised prices. The high rollers certainly don’t hang out there. The days of The Rat Pack are long gone.

  • Incipit

    “I just can’t imagine many people paying for this kind of open lounge that can be seen and heard from within the casino,”

    But they do. One of the recent Venue Reports we received was from Harrah’s Horseshoe Whiskey Roadhouse, and it was sold out. This was the same sort of set-up, with three rooms open to the area containing the stage. The list of casinos played by past contestants is long, and often duplicated, as are the complaints that the shows are too short, because the casino wants the gamblers back on the floor, or that the best seats are comped to the High Rollers. But, I haven’t read comments that denigrate those Casino shows as a Bad Thing.

    The residency aspect of this is the big thing that is different – that, and the identity of the Headliner – but it’s a First for any Idol – and I expect people will be watching to see how it pans out. It’s already received attention from the NYT and The Washington Post.

    Thinking Outside the Box has the possibility of catching on…if anyone else can deliver the goods.

  • Anonymous

    “Have any of you been in a casino lounge? Where there’s gambling and
    alcohol, there is also heckling….I’m sure this is something Taylor is used to by
    now.”

    There aren’t a lot of long-term, professional musicians who aren’t used to this, actually. And definitely not confined to casinos! Goes with the territory.

  • Anonymous

    I’ve been to a lounge area at Harrah’s where the Twins play piano and sing. There’s no way you can stand and watch with a bar right outside there, and you do have to purchase tickets to get inside to sit and enjoy the concert.  I think the majority of the people that will be going to see Taylor are more than happy to purchase tickets and enjoy the concert from inside the Lounge.

  • Anonymous

    I can’t imagine anybody paying to see him, except his over-invested, diehard fans, especially when you can see/hear him for free from afar. Bally’s will have to give away lots of free tix or have empty seats.

  • Anonymous

    It’s been so heartening to see all the coverage Taylor’s gotten from this gig, eh? With the new album coming out, and this gig, it will be an epic summer for him!  He’ll kill it here just like he killed in on Broadway.

    Checked rooms rates – you can get a room at Ballys for $33/night during the week, so it’s affordable! Now to check out airfare….

  • Incipit

    “I can’t imagine…”

    *chuckle* That’s OK, SnowFairy444. After June 26th, imagination or the lack thereof will no longer be an issue.  We’ll all get to hear about and read about what actually happens, in real time, too!  I’m kinda sorta interested to see how this goes.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_IHIRO4P2ZPNQFGMK5KR57VH3E4 Nanc

    Apparently someone hasn’t gotten over the fact that Taylor won 6 years ago….I have seen Taylor live and he is great…congrats Taylor, this is great news!!

  • Anonymous

    Updated info: “(The Indigo) is getting a physical retrofit to host ticketed acts, starting with Taylor Hicks, the fifth season winner of “American Idol,” on June 26.
    A retractable soundproofing curtain, new lights and a stage extension will create “a first-class little showroom” in time for Hicks’ eight-week run, says Carlos Reynoso, who oversees entertainment for Caesars Entertainment.
    The room will seat between 175 and 246 people, depending on whether cocktail tables are in use, and the curtain preserves the traditional use of open-lounge bands playing out to the casino floor.”
    http://www.lvrj.com/neon/musical-chairs-over-act-gets-own-venue-149018625.html 
    So excited for Taylor! He so deserves this opportunity.

  • Anonymous

    Now how cool is that!?  Surely, they are preparing for the soul patrol onslaught into las vegas! lol 

    Glad they are extending the stage – Taylor needs a lot of elbow room ;)

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