As part of “Up Close and Personal,” Newton asked for the lights to be turned on, and for all veterans and first responders to stand up as everyone else in the venue applauded them. He has entertained the troops of every military conflict since - and including - the Vietnam War, was the first USO performer to head to Afghanistan, and serves as chairman of the USO Celebrity Circle, a position he’s held since 2001. Over the years, Newton has become known for his support of the United States military. He quietly sang along with the videos and smiled ear-to-ear, clearly just as thrilled as his fans to walk down memory lane.ĭuring one of the final clips, a duet with Sammy Davis Jr., Newton actually did get up and sing along, reliving an unforgettable moment with the late Rat Pack member. Audience members got to see a young Newton perform a last-minute duet with Glen Campbell, who he revealed had a tendency to change up the lyrics hilariously get on Jack Benny’s nerves with his array of instruments and sing alongside a smoking, head-swiveling Dean Martin, who didn’t attend rehearsals and needed to look at the cue cards.Īs these clips played, it was heartwarming to watch Newton on the darkened Xcite Center stage. Some recollections were followed by clips shown on the Xcite Center’s big screen. Throughout the show, Newton sang a number of favorites, including, naturally, Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas.” But even more special was the Q&A portion of the evening, with his wife of almost 30 years, Kathleen McCrone, asking the questions.įans were given an inside look into Newton’s storied life, from his first encounter with Presley (they were dating the same woman!) and his appearance on The Jackie Gleason Show, to his ability to learn 13 instruments without knowing how to read music. To this, he joked, “Thanks for rushing back to see me!” Doing what he loves: At 81, Wayne Newton is still going strong and performing at the Flamingo Hotel in Las Vegas. A particularly funny moment occurred when he spotted a sign in the crowd, informing Newton that its holder saw him perform 57 years ago. He created an intimate, interactive environment, cracking jokes with the band and fans alike. Newton, 81, gave show-goers a lot of bang for their buck, spending two hours on stage singing the classics and regaling the audience with fascinating stories of his early days in the industry.

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