J.Lo to follow Mariah Carey in Caesars Entertainment’s super-diva lineup

By John Katsilometes

Published Wednesday, April 22, 2015 | 1:57 p.m.

Updated Thursday, April 23, 2015 | 8:20 a.m.

Some notes I’ve stockpiled while zigzagging around the VegasVille scene. Let’s un-pile:

• Caesars Entertainment continues to amass divas in its lineup of headliners at the Colosseum in Caesars Palace and Axis at Planet Hollywood. Set for a mid-May announcement is Jennifer Lopez’s headlining run at Axis, which has been anticipated with great zeal ever since her knockout performance at the Colosseum on New Year’s Eve.

J.Lo’s thunderous party production is a far better fit at Axis, where Britney Spears has essentially turned the 4,000-seat venue into a nightclub experience with “Britney: Piece of Me,” than the more regal Colosseum. J.Lo would fill the dates left open when Spears is off (resting her voice, natch), giving Axis a pair of hot artists toggling the theater schedule.

Meantime, Celine Dion is prepping for her return to the Colosseum on Aug. 27, and on Monday night Mariah Carey is being introduced for her series at the Colosseum with a splashy — in fact — appearance at the fountains at Caesars Palace. Her “Mariah No. 1 to Infinity” residency at the Colosseum is to run from May 6-24, again from July 8-26.

• On this topic, the Venetian is thrilled to report something that is not surprising news but is nonetheless great news for the company: All nine of Diana Ross’ shows at the Venetian Theater sold out.

She ended the run Saturday night, a set of shows remarkable for their fast pace, artist’s energy level and response of the fans, who crushed forward to the stage to the point where security was concerned for Ross’ safety. Who thought a 71-year-old singer would spark a mosh pit? Or, if you will, posh pit?

• What is happening with Michael Grimm, you ask? I ran into him and his lovely wife, Lucie, on Sunday at Kahunaville at T.I. during Mark OToole’s lively tribute to the music of Barry Manilow. Grimm is hosting a groovy brunch performance at Chrome Showroom in Santa Fe Station at 11 a.m. Sunday and also is booked at Vinyl in the Hard Rock Hotel for a mini-residency starting in May.

For the Chrome appearance, Grimm is hosting “Blues and Bayou Brunch,” which is at once blues music performed by Grimm and a Louisiana-fashioned brunch. The cost is $35 (minus fees). Show tickets, minus the brunch, are $10 (fees not included there, either).

Grimm is then headlining Vinyl on May 23 for the formal release of his new CD, under the title “Grimm.” He then performs four shows per week beginning May 29 through Aug. 31. The times are 8:30 p.m. Fridays, 6 and 8:30 p.m. Saturdays and 8:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets at Vinyl start at $19.95 (fees included), and locals can purchase a ticket at a flat $10 fee any time at the club’s box office.

Grimm has a single night remaining in his run at Ron DeCar’s Event Center on Saturday night and appears next Thursday at the Fountain Stage at the Linq Promenade to help celebrate the retail/entertainment walkway’s first anniversary. Then he breaks to prepare for Vinyl, whose comic headliner is Andrew Dice Clay, and more on him in two shakes …

• Clay was a surprise guest among many surprises Monday night at “Comedy Implosion” at Riviera Comedy Club. Hosted by longtime Las Vegas standup and radio personality Carla Rea, the night was a reunion of some of the top club comics to perform at the Riv. The club closes with the hotel on May 4; the final show starring Michael “Wheels” Parise and Shayma Tash is May 3.

The lineup during Monday’s three-hour show was like a high school reunion of standups who had played the club. In order, we had: Rea, Bob Zany, Stanley Ullman, Paul Bond, Kathleen Dunbar, Jimmie “J.J.” Walker, George Wallace, Mike Saccone, Ken Rogerson, Willie Ferrell, John Caponera, Vince Morris, Sheila Kay, Parise, Clay, Tony V., Mike Merryfield, Jimmy Dunn, John Bizarre, Tash, Sam Kwansman and Gerry Bednob.

Wallace has been popping up occasionally for unannounced sets, including a recent appearance at the Laugh Factory in the Trop. Walker is one of the most famous comics to appear at the club, along with Clay, whose rip-roaring set chased a few patrons out the door (at about the moment he made his famous “coconut cream pie” reference).

But the other comics loved it, and in the back of the room was one noteworthy former Riviera headliner: Mac King. He appeared at the Riv more than 20 years ago, when Steve Schirripa ran the door and entertainment at the property. The recurring theme was Las Vegas was a better place for comedy in those days, and the jokes were mixed with sadness as the famous club counts down the nights.

• The Tenors of Rock, the vocal group from the U.K. who have twice visited Las Vegas in an attempt to gain a headlining gig in town, are back Sunday night at Backstage Bar & Billiards on Fremont East. Showtime is 10:30 p.m., and it’s free (fees included!). The Tenors, still led onstage and off by Gareth Richards, have added a band to their ensemble. Unlike their tours of the city in November 2013 and again last summer, the group is homing in on drawing casino execs to the performance to entice interest in a residency.

It’s a challenging process, especially for an act from overseas, but Caesars Entertainment in particular has shown interest in the act. The Tenors really rock it and could be a great fit in a smaller venue on the Strip that caters to tourists. The Tenors themselves are still visitors, and if they can persuade someone with keys to a room that they can sell tickets, they will no longer be that.

• A very cool hang is in the offing Sunday night at 8:30 at T Spot at Tuscany Suites. The great pianist/vocalist Kenny Davidsen is hosting his 40th birthday with a rollout of songs from 1975, which is (calculator at the ready) 40 years ago. Davidsen is inviting a high volume of top singers in town, and the show is expected to rage from 8:30 p.m. until about 2 a.m. It is worth checking out.

• Great moment from country singer Jason Aldean at last week’s opening-night party for “Duck Commander Musical” at the Rio. I ran into him near the bar and said it would be interesting to see him play a short run of shows at the Joint, as the Hard Rock Hotel is leaning country/rock of late (the Rascal Flatts and Kenny Chesney bookings the chief examples). “I’ve played some joints,” Aldean said, “but never the Joint.”

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.