Glitter-encrusted diva Mariah Carey has been making with the announcements a lot lately. First, she revealed her struggles with bipolar disorder, then she unloaded the double whammy of a new album and a new residency in Las Vegas.
The 48-year-old diva told PEOPLE that the fan support she’s received since sharing her personal issues “was really nice,” adding, “I say things off the cuff, but sometimes you have to be serious about things. It’s life. Everybody has their own stuff. As long as I don’t have to stop being myself, it’s just who I am.”
Mariah also reveled plans for her new Las Vegas show, “The Butterfly Returns.” She insists the new show, which debuts at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace on July 5, will be a departure from her last show, stating, “It’s not like one of those extravaganza [shows].” This is promising news, as Mariah doesn’t seem to be a fan of choreography, as we’ve seen in the past. She’s promising a more intimate experience, which should be interesting to achieve in the massive, 4,300-seat venue.
Mariah said she hopes to perform more “fan favorites” this time around, describing the show’s vibe as “more like ‘Here we are, we’re together. Oh, you want me to do this song tonight?’ Maybe I’ll take a request from the audience. My band are such great players and singers.” She added, “It’s something else for me to feel connected with the fans through the songs.”
Despite her wanting a more scaled-down show, don’t expect Mariah to give up her over-the-top, cleavage-showcasing costumes. Just chalk it up to her desire to be herself. As she confessed to PEOPLE, “I kind of can’t help myself.” She went on to kid that, “I don’t know when I’m understated. Maybe in my sleep, and even then it’s not understated! I know who I am and I go with what works for me.”
According to RADAR, the Vegas gig is doing wonders for Mariah’s well-being. A close friend told the website that “Mariah is determined to turn this all around and the only way that she knows how to do this is through her music and her fans.” The source added that, “Not only is she working on new music, but she has been working out non-stop in the gym and the studio because she wants to look and sound her best for this upcoming residency.”
I guess you’ve got to give Mariah credit for sticking to her guns and unapologetically maintaining her brand, like it or not. I’m curious to see how this pared-down, non-extravaganza of a show works in Las Vegas – although I don’t think her fans are going to care.
Photos: WENN.com, Getty Images
