As those of you who read Friday’s post are aware, this past weekend saw the return of the legendary Diana Ross to the Las Vegas Strip, and oh, what a return it was!  Caesars Palace was all abuzz with crowds making their way to The Colosseum to see Miss Ross perform.

Still at the top of her game after 50 years in the business of show, the woman who sung her way into our hearts, as part of The Supremes, gave us a sublime trip down Memory Lane that included a number of hits from her time with Motown’s seminal girl-group, including “Reflections,” “Love Child” and “Stop! In the Name of Love,” resulting with her fans hopping-up and dancing in the seats (sorry for the Motown pun).

She gave us the dance-floor diva with club-hits like “The Boss,” “Upside Down,” “I’m Coming Out” and of course, her entrée into the world of disco, “Love Hangover” – as well as her take on Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.”

She channeled jazz great Billie Holiday and sang the blues (draped in blue, mind you…), and stepped into The Wiz with “Ease on Down the Road.” 

Not content with simply asking if we knew where we were going to (à la “Theme from Mahogany”), Ross also inquired as to why fools had a tendency to fall in love, and expressed her “Endless Love.”

Kicking-off the third-leg of her “More Today than Yesterday” Tour, Diana wore a glittering succession of gowns, with wraps and shawls and feather boas and all the other sparkly accoutrements that come with a Bob Mackie-designed wardrobe.  Actually, considering the onstage attire worn by the casino’s headliners, over the years, I wonder what kind of rate Mother Mackie gets on a room at Caesars. 

Throughout the show, Ross saluted many of the magnificent Motown performers and friends she’s lost over the years (the legendary Marvin Gaye received far and away the most applause).

Then, for her encore, Diana sang a tribute-medley to Michael Jackson including her song “Missing You” and his song “You Are Not Alone” before concluding with “I Love You (That’s All That Really Matters).”  Talk about saying it with song!

My favorite part of the show was the way Ross interacted with the audience.  Throughout the concert, a number of fans (myself included) ran to the stage.  I, as you might well imagine, was doing so to shoot the photos you see, herein.

A number of her (let’s call them “enthusiastic”) fans decided to take her at her word, and when they tried to reach-out and touch more than her hand, she deftly hopped back (no easy feat in a gown that weighs upwards of 30-pounds) as those people tried to yank the feathers right out of her boa!  At one point, I was actually body-checked by a lady who couldn’t have been taller than 5’2” and hadn’t seen this side of 80 in years.  (I was primed to say something, but when I saw her, I just couldn’t do it…)

We has a wonderful time, and if she’s coming to your town, anytime soon, I highly recommend taking-in the show; for Diana Ross is one of those performers who truly exemplifies the very best of the live concert experience.

Click HERE to view photos from the concert