Las Vegas Weekly

July 25, 2008 · 6 AM

Mystery surrounds Celine’s new touring co-star

By Robin Leach

Photo: Scott Doctor/www.greatscottstudios.com

Celine Dion, shown onstage with her husband, Rene Angelil, and their son, Rene-Charles, at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in December 2007, when her A New Day show drew to a close.

Canadian hit-song queen Celine Dion has just been awarded the highest honor by the government of France. Premiere Nicholas Sarkozy presented our Caesars Palace headliner with the Medal of Honor at his Elysee Palace in Paris, but that’s not the only reason she’s making headlines.

Celine, who has indicated a return to the stage at Caesars after a year’s break following her current world tour, has just wrapped up the Asian and European segments of her tour -- and now gets ready to resume the North American leg with two sold-out shows in Boston. After Aug. 23, when she starts regular shows throughout Canada, it appears highly probable that Vegas entertainer and impressionist Gordie Brown, from the V Theater at Planet Hollywood’s Miracle Mile, will be her new opening act.

Gordie, also a Canadian, was enjoying great success at the V Theater after a similar run at The Venetian before Wayne Brady moved into that showroom. Gordie’s manager, Bernie Yuman, would not comment on the rumors and I know that Celine herself prefers to make all announcements about tour changes via her official Web site so no untrue rumors get turned into fact! So far, no word from Celine but I’m told to expect it very shortly -- and Vegas friends and showbiz folks at David Saxe’s V Theater already say "it’s a done deal -- Gordie goes to Celine for the remainder of her world tour.”

Meantime, the night before her Aug. 23 Canadian kickoff she may play to the largest audience ever in her career. She’s giving a free concert to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Quebec City -- and some 200,000 fans will pour in for the spectacular show. Celine is already adding dates to the fall touring schedule because of continuing sell-outs. She won’t be seen in Vegas, however, until she returns to headline at Caesars but will appear nearby in Salt Lake City on Nov. 21, Los Angeles on Nov. 25 and Phoenix on Dec. 6.

Share This