The History of Motown in Las Vegas
Updated November 2026. Motown Vegas is run by the producers of All MotownSM and Motown BrunchSM. Links to other shows go to Vegas.com, which may pay us a commission.
Motown has been part of Las Vegas for more than fifty years. Diana Ross sang her last show with the Supremes at the Frontier Hotel on January 14, 1970, the Jackson 5 played the MGM Grand in 1974, and tribute shows have kept the music on Las Vegas stages ever since. Here is the timeline, with the shows you can see today at the end.
Timeline: Motown in Las Vegas
| Year | What happened |
|---|---|
| 1959 | Berry Gordy starts the Detroit record label that becomes Motown. |
| 1970 | Diana Ross and the Supremes give their final concert together at the Frontier Hotel on January 14. |
| 1974 | The Jackson 5 bring a family revue to the MGM Grand. |
| 1997 | The Motown Cafe opens at New York-New York. |
| 2000 | The Motown Cafe closes in October. |
| 2009 | Human Nature opens its Motown show at the Imperial Palace, presented by Smokey Robinson. |
| 2013 | Human Nature moves to the Sands Showroom at The Venetian. |
| 2017 | Motown the Musical plays The Smith Center, January 17 to 22. |
| 2020 | Human Nature ends its Las Vegas residency after 11 years. |
| 2021 | All Motown opens on March 5. |
| 2024 | Motown Brunch begins. |
1970: the Supremes say goodbye at the Frontier
The most famous Motown night in Las Vegas history is a farewell. On January 14, 1970, Diana Ross performed with the Supremes for the last time, on stage at the Frontier Hotel. The engagement was recorded and released as the live album Farewell. At the end of the show Ross introduced Jean Terrell, who replaced her as lead singer, and the group closed with "Someday We'll Be Together", its last number one hit with Ross.
1974: the Jackson 5 at the MGM Grand
In 1974 the Jackson 5 brought a family revue to the MGM Grand. It was built as a nightclub act, not a concert, and it was the group's first Las Vegas engagement of that kind. The Jacksons played the hotel's Celebrity Room, a showroom that no longer exists.
1997 to 2000: the Motown Cafe
For a few years Motown had its own address on the Strip. The Motown Cafe opened at New York-New York in early 1997, a themed restaurant with live Motown music. It closed in October 2000, and the space became an ESPN Zone.
2009 to 2020: Human Nature
The longest Motown run in Las Vegas belonged to an Australian vocal group. Human Nature opened at the Imperial Palace in May 2009 in a show presented by Motown legend Smokey Robinson. In 2013 the group moved to the Sands Showroom at The Venetian. The residency ended in 2020 after 11 years. The group still tours and returns to Las Vegas for a few shows a year, mostly at South Point.
2017: Motown the Musical
The Broadway musical about Berry Gordy and the label played Reynolds Hall at The Smith Center from January 17 to 22, 2017, as a stop on its national tour.
Motown shows playing Las Vegas now
| Show | From | Next show |
|---|---|---|
| Motown ExtremeVegas.com | $28.98 | See dates |
| All MotownBook direct | $44.95 | |
| Motown BrunchBook direct | $58.95 | |
| Soul of MotownVegas.com | $62.57 | See dates |
FAQ
Where did Diana Ross play her last show with the Supremes?
At the Frontier Hotel in Las Vegas on January 14, 1970. The concert was recorded for the live album Farewell, and Ross introduced Jean Terrell as the group's new lead singer at the end of the night.
Was there a Motown Cafe in Las Vegas?
Yes. The Motown Cafe was at New York-New York from early 1997 until it closed in October 2000. The space then became an ESPN Zone.
Is Human Nature still playing in Las Vegas?
Not as a resident show. Human Nature's Motown residency ran from 2009 to 2020, first at the Imperial Palace and then at The Venetian. The group still tours and returns to Las Vegas for a few shows a year, mostly at South Point.
Are there Motown shows in Las Vegas now?
Yes. All Motown and Motown Brunch play The Modern Showrooms at Alexis Park, and the table above lists the other Motown shows on sale with their starting prices.
