POP royalty Kylie Minogue has announced a Las Vegas residency — and says she is battered and bruised after starting gruelling rehearsals.
In an exclusive interview from LA, the singer, 55, told how she has been pushing herself to the limit to prepare for her multi-million pound series of shows in Sin City’s Venetian Hotel.
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She is set to take to the stage at the hotel’s new music venue Voltaire later this year for a three month run, expected to be an instant sell-out.
Kylie told The Sun: “It’s been like literal blood, sweat and tears. Bruises, sleepless nights, all of those things.
“But the pay-off and what keeps me going is there’s a moment in a show where you feel like you are weightless or you’re surfing.
“I’ve always thought that shows are a cosmic thing because we come with energy and the fans come with energy.
“They’ve got their babysitter, they’re taking the time off work, they’re spending their hard earned money to come to a show or they have dressed up.
“They come with so much energy before the curtains are raised. They’re really amazing. So the blood, sweat and tears is all worth it.”
Over the past decade Kylie, who has sold 80 million records, has played to sold-out arenas around the world.
But it has been four years since her last big stage show after the pandemic put paid to her worldwide tour plans.
Her concerts at Voltaire will allow fans to get up close and personal to the Australian born star, who like fellow singer Adele will play weekends at the venue.
Kylie explained: “People will be really close and I will love that. It’s going to present different challenges to a big show and blur some lines.”
Kylie promised she was ready to thrill her fans with a show like no other, with multiple costume changes and never-before-heard tracks.
She added: “I want it to be the essence of what a Kylie show has become, enough glamour and abandon.
“I’ve got some versions of songs that have not been heard, like reinterpretations of songs, which is exciting.
“Live bed dances, amazing costumes. That’s the base and then we’ll see what surprises we can come up with.”
Ever since Kylie’s first UK No1 in January 1988 with I Should Be So Lucky, the former Neighbours actress has become one of the biggest names in music. She has landed 35 UK Top 10s — including seven No1s — and eight UK No1 albums.
Now, three decades into her career, Kylie is in the midst of an epic revival.
Her comeback single Padam Padam continues to dominate music charts around the world after becoming a surprise smash thanks to the singer adapting to changing times and capitalising on Instagram and TikTok viral trends.
The track, which serves as the lead single to her sixteenth album Tension, out September 22, gave Kylie her first UK Top 10 hit in 12 years.
The record was written and recorded by Kylie as she was going through her break up with her boyfriend of five years, GQ executive Paul Solomons.
Vegas High
Kylie was keen to stress the album, which aptly includes an electronic pop smash called Vegas High, is anything but a heartbreak record.
Instead she used her time in the studio to lift herself back up to happiness, though admits the process was “challenging”.
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Kylie added: “The album is a mix of songs I have written and songs which really spoke to me.
“I would say it’s a blend of personal reflection, club abandon and melancholic high. Making this album helped me navigate challenging times and celebrate the now.”
Keen to check out the competition, she secretly went on a number of scouting missions to take notes from shows along the strip including Bruno Mars and John Legend as well as Lady Gaga’s Jazz and Piano show.
Kylie said: “The shows I saw were very much lines of seats looking at the stage. I think Voltaire is going to be more organic, more flowy.”
Prior to pop star Britney Spears’ arrival in Las Vegas with her Piece of Me residency at Planet Hollywood in 2013, the city was seen by many as a sequin-covered graveyard for performers living out their final days of former glory.
But since then Vegas has undergone a makeover, attracting the music industry’s top names.
Kylie insisted she was far from ready to take her final bow.
She said: “I was thinking years ago I want to do it when I’m younger, I don’t want to do it when I’m at the sunset of my career.
“So, I think I’ve got it right somewhere in the middle, where I feel like I’ve earned the right and have the experience to really enjoy being there.
“I think if I had done this earlier in my career it might have been too early. If I’d done it too much later I’d regret it being too much later.”
She is planning a European tour in support of her upcoming album and will headline BBC Radio 2’s In The Park in Leicester on September 17.
Kylie said: “If I stop still for too long I will become morose and despondent. I am human and that’s what happens.”
Tickets to Kylie’s Las Vegas residency go on sale August 9 with travel packages available from August 7.
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Pop greats of Sin City
KYLIE is the latest star in a long list of music greats who have set up camp in Sin City.
Ever since Elvis made his Vegas debut in 1956 aged 21, the Nevada city has offered lucrative residency deals.
Cher, Sir Elton John, Celine Dion and Britney Spears have all enjoyed sell-out runs there.
Robbie Williams did a mini residency in 2019.
In 2021 Sir Rod Stewart extended his into an 11th year.
Adele is currently in the middle of a second run.
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