The Celebration of Mimi Live: Mariah Carey’s Triumphant Return to the Vegas Stage

This weekend, Mariah Carey returned to Las Vegas at Dolby Live inside Park MGM with The Celebration of Mimi Live in Las Vegas. The residency has shows scheduled through April 27 and recently announced new show dates July 26-August 10 prior to opening night. Opening weekend was a raging success as fans sang along, and every song on the setlist was met with roaring applause. I attended night two of the sold-out opening weekend, and, as a lifelong Mariah Carey fan, it was a much-needed nostalgic musical journey.

Hits, High Notes, and High Glam with Mariah Carey in Las Vegas

As one would expect, the show is a glitzy celebration of all things Mariah and a true celebration of beloved hits ranging all the way back to the very start of her career—the show opens with her debut single from nearly 34 years ago, “Vision of Love.” From here, audience members embark on a chronological journey through her rise to stardom. Tracks like “Make it Happen” and “Dreamlover” each had an added reprise that was inter-spliced with videos throughout Carey’s personal journey, which are split throughout the show along with spoken narration, furthering concertgoers along on the ride through her career.

The show is split into multiple acts, most of which encompass multiple albums. Audience members who have been fans since the early ’90s will recognize virtually every single track, including more obscure tunes that haven’t been performed live in over a decade. The show is more than just the mega hits—true fans will get a taste of songs that others won’t know, but one thing is almost guaranteed—everyone will get to hear their favorite Mariah Carey song.

The set design is beautiful and surprisingly simplistic, which makes the music all the more impactful. Dolby Live’s exquisite sound quality seems tailor-made for Carey’s famous whistle register in songs like “Emotions” and power ballads like “Hero.” The venue’s shape and tiers also ensure there isn’t a bad seat in the house. And if you’re partly he

re for Carey’s diva-esque style, you won’t be disappointed. Her wardrobe changes go hand in hand with the flow of the show, marking different chapters in the most glamorous way.