Las Vegas has installed itself as one of the most exciting vacation destinations in the world. In fact, the desert mecca was built with entertainment in mind from its founding. Back in the 1950s, businessmen from Los Angeles began to invest in the Strip, poring their resources into creating the perfect weekend getaway.

Some of Sin City’s most prominent groups still active have been there from the start, such as MGM, which takes its name from the Metro-Goldwyn Meyer film studio. Today, most of Vegas’s reputation boils down to similar casino resorts. However, this is a bit of a misnomer.

While Vegas is invariably associated with games like blackjack and poker, many casino gamers prefer to play online because of convenience and bonus deals. In fact, online platforms today offer deals and guides on different categories and titles of classic and new casino games. In other words, finding the best casino games isn’t the sole focus of travelers heading for Vegas.

Instead, other elements like culinary stopovers, fine arts, the comedy show from stars, and big-name musical residencies have steadily gained popularity. And in the case of musical headliners, some of the city’s biggest shows helped put Vegas on the map back in the 1960s and 70s.

All-Time Legends: Liberace & Elvis

If there’s one name that belonged in light, it was Liberace. The piano man was known for his bright suits and long capes, which bucked the tradition of tux-wearing pianists. But not many people realize that Liberace’s influence surpasses the style of a great piano show. He innovated on-stage acts like dangling above on thin wires (long before Cirque de Soleil) and entering the audience to work (or rib) the crowd.

Liberace stayed on in Vegas until 1986, shortly before his death. For a few years in the 1950s, Elvis also graced the New Frontier Hotel with his show. And while Liberace commanded a higher salary and larger audiences, Elvis was no stranger to selling out a crowd. In fact, many fans and historians remember his performances in Vegas more as ‘experiences.’

Live Performance

Global Headliners: Celine Dion & Prince

Aside from Liberace, Celine Dion is often hailed as Vegas’s premier headliner. But, like the piano man before her, Dion didn’t head to the Strip to cash in on her name. Instead, she booked into Caesars Palace at the height of her career in the early 2000s—and audiences could tell.

Once more, taking a page out of Liberace’s book, Dion incorporated dazzling acrobats and a full orchestra into her show. Her success proved that artists could command audiences in Vegas without compromising their careers. A few years after Dion took the stage, Prince also spent a few months in Vegas from 2006-07.

In true Prince style, his show was experimental and featured various talents, from Chaka Khan to Larry Graham. While strutting his stuff on stage, Prince was simultaneously opening a restaurant in the city, proving his reach extended far outside of music. Though short-lived, Prince’s show was easily one of the most memorable of the decade.

Highest-Grossing: Elton John & Britney Spears

Not all Vegas headliners are remembered for their innovation in the arts or their stage presence. Some, like Elton John and Britney Spears, are referenced more for their staggering sales numbers. And, when it comes to numbers, Celine Dion once again takes the cake for her ‘A New Day…’ and ‘Celine’ shows, which grossed $480.5 million and $299 million, respectively.

However, close behind are Elton John and Britney Spears. As global powerhouse favorites, each held Sin City’s attention for years. Elton John’s ‘The Red Piano’ raked in $204 million, while his ‘The Million Dollar Piano‘ brought home $131 million. Britney Spears’ ‘Britney Spears: Piece Of Me’ took home $144 million.

Both Elton John and Spears have won awards for running the best residencies in Vegas. Their shows didn’t just highlight their most famous songs but also gave fans a special treatment that made audiences feel ‘closer’ to their favorite stars. For Spears, it was about building her comeback in the mid-2010s. For Elton John, it was about creating a totally new spectacle unseen on his other tours.