Lopez takes career to Las Vegas

Jennifer Lopez, a pop sensation starting in the late 1990s whose career has since matured, will turn her repertoire into a Las Vegas show.

The New York-born star of Puerto Rican heritage announced Tuesday night that she will start a residency in Las Vegas in January next year, running with breaks through June.

Speaking on talent show "American Idol," where serves as a judge, Lopez said she would be "mixing all aspects of what my fans and I love -- dance, hip-hop, Latin.

"It's going to be the show I've always dreamt of creating," she said.

The show -- backed by a live band, dancers and special effects -- will take place at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino, owned by struggling Caesars Entertainment Corp.

Lopez, 45, raised in a working-class family in The Bronx, had her start as a teenager in film, dance and music.

She released a string of blockbuster albums starting with her 1999 debut, "On the 6," which brought Latin and R&B elements to her pop songs and were accompanied by a heavy dose of sex appeal.

Lopez has kept an active schedule with films and her role on "American Idol," the television show that once enjoyed major influence but is now in its final season.

But "A.K.A.," Lopez's last album which was released in 2014, was her worst-performing work commercially.

Las Vegas, the city built on gambling and other hedonistic tourism, has long offered a stage for performers who seek a regular venue for career-spanning shows.

Mariah Carey opened a residency last week at Caesar's Palace, where Celine Dion will take the stage later this year.
Source: AFP