How Carrie Underwood's Las Vegas Residency Will Inspire Future Performances

Since kicking off her Las Vegas Residency, Carrie Underwood has proved — many times — that she can deliver a truly jaw-dropping performance.

During the Academy of Country Music Awards in March, for example, Underwood took the stage with Jason Aldean to perform their powerhouse breakup ballad, “If I Didn’t Love You.” She made her entrance by descending onstage. Then, at the CMT Music Awards in April, Underwood promised to do “something I’ve NEVER DONE BEFORE!” She sang “Ghost Story” as she ascended into the air in silk ribbons, surrounded by aerial performers. Even in her “Ghost Story” music video, Underwood swings from a trapeze as she sings about haunting an ex’s every move.

Underwood explained that she’s taking her performances to new heights (sometimes literally) because of the confidence she’s gained from her Vegas shows. She was the first artist to take the stage at Resorts World Theatre for REFLECTION: The Las Vegas Residency, which has marked a total of 18 sold-out shows, according to her record label. The residency will continue in 2023, and before then, Underwood will kick off her “Denim & Rhinestones Tour.” She said in a statement of her Vegas residency:

“I think everything that I do I learn from along the way and get to add certain things to my, you know, my bank. You learn what works in different areas and what doesn’t work in other areas. And I feel like our Las Vegas residency Reflection has definitely taught me a lot. I feel like it helped a lot in the confidence department, in my confidence department, because we got to put together just this incredible show. You know, it wasn’t necessarily just a concert, it was a show and I love that. I feel like there’s so many elements of that that I’m gonna take with me as we plan and ultimately take the ‘Denim and Rhinestones Tour’ out on the road. So, I’m excited to see what we do with everything that we’ve learned, and I think it only makes me a better performer and artist. So, it’s gonna be good.”

Underwood is hitting the road on a 43-city trek with Jimmie Allen, beginning in fall 2022 and spanning to spring 2023. She previously said she’s “thrilled” to tour again: “I’m having such an amazing time with my Las Vegas residency and look forward to continuing that next year after the tour. …We’ve been working hard already preparing an amazing show, and I can’t wait to see everyone on the road!”

Denim & Rhinestones released earlier this month. The 12-track project includes previously-released songs — “Ghost Story,” “Denim & Rhinestones,” “Crazy Angels” and “She Don’t Know” — along with other instant fan-favorites like “Velvet Heartbreak” and “Pink Champagne.” Find Denim & Rhinestones on iHeartRadio here. Relive some of Underwood's latest Vegas-worthy performances below:

“If I Didn’t Love You,” from the ACM Awards

“Ghost Story,” from the CMT Music Awards

“Ghost Story” music video