Las Vegas Weekly

June 19, 2009 · 8:27 AM

Strip Stars: Aretha Franklin, Jay Leno, Big & Rich, Britney Spears and UFC

By Robin Leach

Aretha Franklin attends George Wallace's show in the Flamingo.

It’s another huge all-star invasion this weekend on the comedy and country music scene, and today’s the day that tickets go on sale here for two new concerts Britney Spears has added to her continuing Circus world tour. The pop princess returns here Sept. 26-27 to Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Click HERE for our report of Britney’s first Vegas stop this year at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and click HERE for our report on Britney’s magician Ed Alonzo, who does four illusions each night in the circular Circus ring using her as his magician’s assistant. The two Strip shows are part of her new 20-city tour for the fall.

The Circus Tour has become the highest grossing of 2009 in North America.

Britney commented: “I’m so excited to bring The Circus back to North America. I’ve made some really cool changes to the show that I think my fans are really going to love. I also get to bring the show to some new cities we missed the first time around.”

Motown legend and Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin has taken a train to Las Vegas for her show tonight at Primm, and although she missed the premiere of Smokey Robinson’s Human Nature Motown hits show at the Imperial Palace, she did catch up with George Wallace and his comedy show at the Flamingo.

It’s another huge weekend of superstar singers and comedians in Las Vegas. Country legend Loretta Lynn and popular duo Big & Rich go head-to-head in one contest, and Jay Leno goes up against Chelsea Handler in another.

Then at The Pearl in the Palms, it’s the finale of the war between Team U.S. and Team U.K. in the TV series The Ultimate Fighter. Watch the battles between “Nightmare” Diego Sanchez and Clay “The Carpenter” Guida and James “Lightning” Wilks and DaMarques Johnson. The Spike TV event airs tomorrow night, but you can watch the weigh-in live this afternoon at the Palms. You’ll find the day-by-day listing in the Royal Robin Rundown posted here later today.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

Follow Robin Leach on Twitter HERE.

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