Las Vegas Weekly

September 12, 2009 · 8 AM

Photo Gallery: Mariah Carey dazzles @Palms; is residency in store?

By Robin Leach

Mariah Carey at The Pearl in the Palms.

Photo: Erik Kabik/Retna/www.erikkabikphoto.com

Superstar singer Mariah Carey “floated in like an angel” when her knockout show opened at The Pearl Concert Theater in the Palms last night. Mimi looked mag-Mimi-cent, radiating like a heavenly creature on a three-day pass from above and made the most of every moment of her earthbound stay in Sin City.

Mariah’s visit and platinum performance have already prompted serious talk about her considering a regular residency here -- maybe along the lines of Carlos Santana’s deal at The Joint in the Hard Rock Hotel. If last night was the test, then Mariah passed with flying colors, and the legal eagles will be sharpening their negotiating points as early as Monday morning!

If The Colosseum at Caesars Palace has Cher, Bette and the possible return of Celine as weapons, then there’s no reason why the Palms couldn’t compete with the marvelous Mariah missile! Leading lens lady Denise Truscello and contributing photographer Erik Kabik were front and center for this early morning gallery of sensational photos.

Broadway choreographer, director, dancer and actress Debbie Allen executed a perfect show and backdrop for Mariah, who simply dazzled in her 20 years of hit performances. The audience, closer to Mariah than any other time in her usual large venue concerts, simply adored and worshipped her. Her last show here filled the MGM Grand Garden Arena to capacity in 2006.

Photo: Denise Truscello/WireImage

Mariah Carey at The Pearl in the Palms.

This was a two-way, mutual love fest. Enthusiastic fans blew her kisses, and she smiled back , comfortably flirting with them all as she strutted and high-stepped in her super-sexy outfits across the stage built with an upper catwalk for her dancers! Mariah performs her simply sensational successful show again tonight at the Palms and returns again mid-October for another two concerts.

Said Palms Entertainment VP Michael Greco, who talked Mariah into performing close up at the intimate 2,500-seat Pearl: “She’s sold more than 60 million records and with 18 No. 1 hits, that’s as many as Elvis achieved. So I think some form of a resident engagement here is logical and just a question of when. We’ve certainly talked about it, and when the time is right, both of us will know.”

Click HERE for our Executive Editor John Katsilometes’ report on the evening with picture-perfect Mimi.

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.

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