Sammy Davis Jr. and Frank Sinatra. Penn and Teller. Gallagher and watermelons. Dynamic duos are nothing new for Las Vegas. What’s special about this latest power pairing, Toni Braxton and Cedric the Entertainer, is that they’re stars from different galaxies, joining forces for a unique Vegas show called “Love & Laughter.”
Braxton is an R&B legend who’s sold more than 70 million albums and has won seven Grammy Awards. Cedric is a stand-up comedy king, a TV host, a producer and one of the stars of the CBS hit sitcom The Neighborhood. Proving that opposites attract, their mini residency at Forbes Travel Guide Recommended The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas’ The Chelsea (June 28 and 29; July 12 and 13) has been such a hit, there are talks of taking it on the road.
When it comes to touring, these two entertainment titans have lots to say — they have been selling out arenas since the ’90s, after all. From the downside of traveling to excellent Vegas restaurants, Braxton and Cedric are full of great takes. Forbes Travel Guide was granted front-row seats to a recent discussion with the talented twosome.
What makes Vegas such a special place to you?
Braxton: As an entertainer and a singer, I think of all those who paved the way for me. I think of people like Lola Falana, Ms. Lena Horne, people I love, people my parents used to watch. I would watch them and wanted to emulate them. And Vegas was the centerpiece. That was the center stage. You didn’t make it unless you performed in Vegas. Having an opportunity to perform there is like a dream come true. When you can please a Vegas crowd, that’s the upper crust of the entertainment to me.
Once you please the Vegas crowd, you can please any crowd, right?
Braxton: Yeah, you’re a veteran when you can do that. It takes a different skill because that’s a different crowd from all over the world. You always perform for your audience, but Vegas is all audiences.
What does Vegas mean to you, Ced?
Cedric: Yeah, pretty much the same thing. Growing up in the Midwest [St. Louis], Vegas is that pinnacle spot. It’s a couple of places where you got to make it. If you want to do film and television, it’s L.A. You want to do theater, it’s New York. If you want to be a live performer, it’s Vegas. I remember my first time being able to come out and perform there a long time ago, being on the stage at the old Flamingo, just how it felt like, “Yeah, you’re with the greats.” And now, to have this opportunity with a residency there and be on stage with such a legend and giving people something that we’re both really proud of, it’s like full circle.
And, of course, the city has just grown in so many other ways now with sports and the restaurants. It’s grown with fantastic energy to a true destination spot. Kind of like what Toni was alluding to, that people from all around the world come here and you’re a part of that ecosystem is great.
What can attendees expect from the “Love & Laughter” show?
Cedric: It’s all in the name. We come with two wonderful fan bases that grew up really enjoying great entertainment. You know Toni has these hit records, these back-to-back cuts that make you feel some kind of way. And then, for those that know my brand of comedy, I kind of exist the same way, from The Steve Harvey Show to the Barbershop movies to my stand-ups, I’ve been a part of your life in this way.
And then, for those who don’t know either one of us, the combination of us together is this family reunion feeling we get on stage. It feels like we come off as great friends, brother and sister, cousins. And we make y’all feel the same way. The people sitting in the audience feel like they’re really connected to us. I think that’s the surprising aspect of what people get from this show. They think it’s going to be separated, [but it’s not]. Once they have that experience, they all are involved with the show and just running along with us as we take you through this night of entertainment.
Toni, what’s it like being on stage with Cedric?
Braxton: Cedric is a superstar, an icon. We know he’s the original king of comedy. We know he’s a fantastic actor. He’s made us laugh for years. We know all that stuff. But this man is so talented. He sings, he dances. I was so pleasantly surprised. I became even a bigger fan of his.
Being on the stage with him is the best moment of my life. Of all my performances, this is one of my best. Being with him, I think I have an ease. I’ve been to Vegas before, but having a king with me makes me feel more comfortable. He pushes me. He helps me. Just seeing him on that stage, I’m like, “Wow.” I don’t think he realized how big of a fan I’ve always been of his work.
You are on a break with the residency until late June. What do you do in the in-between time?
Braxton: I get to relax a little bit, but more than anything, we get to [tweak] little tidbits on the show. We got the great cupcakes and frosting. So, now [we just add] little sprinkles. Not a lot to fix. Just personal things that I may have noticed like, “Oh, maybe I should sing this song this way. Maybe we should do it that way.” Now we’re perfecting the show.
Name a few restaurants in Vegas you like to eat at before or after a performance.
Braxton: I’m a foodie, so I love to eat. We like to eat.
Cedric: What’s that rice you like? I gotta try it. You gotta put me on. Kenneth [Crear, Braxton’s manager] brings it to you.
Braxton: It’s so yummy. I should know the name of the restaurant. It’s like Jewish rice meets Asian rice. That’s the great thing about Vegas — all these great taste buds get to come together. It’s fantastic. I love the food. I love the menus. I love finding out about new things that titillate my taste buds. Vegas is a spot for that. I love steakhouses. STK in The Cosmo is great.
[Editor’s note: Crear stepped in at the end of the conversation to say that the beloved Braxton dish is actually a Portuguese fried rice from a kosher Chinese restaurant called Chinglish.]
Cedric: They got great stuff all around. We celebrated my birthday there. We threw a brunch at Lo-Lo’s, which was great. A fantastic spot.
But I’m also a golfer, so Vegas is now premier in golf. So many wonderful courses, like Shadow Creek, Southern Highlands and Summit Club.
I haven’t got to visit the Sphere yet. And then there are the late-night spots like Drais, where Rick Ross was performing the last time I was there. It was a little late night for me, though. I ain’t got it like I used to. They get to poppin’ off those drinks a little late for your boy nowadays.
Do you try to sneak by to see friends’ performances while they’re in town?
Braxton: I always try to check out my friends, but I haven’t been able to because we’ve been working really, really hard. I haven’t had a lot of off time. Have you been able to do anything, Ced?
Cedric: I was able to see [Justin] Timberlake last time because he did a big show at T-Mobile Arena. We performed on Friday and then on Sunday for Mother’s Day. So, we actually had the Saturday off. That wound up being a good time to be able to go and see Justin do his thing. I saw both Usher and Bruno before we got to town. Now, they are our archrivals… No, we’re good.
Toni, where haven’t you performed that you’re still dying to get to?
Braxton: I’ve been pretty blessed. I’ve been in the business almost 30 years, so I’ve been able to perform in pretty much every place I’ve always wanted. My favorite was Australia at the Sydney Opera House only probably because of Finding Nemo. I just had to be there. That was a big deal.
I’ve been all over the world, and that’s where I think it’s helped me as a performer. Like I said earlier, I get to perform for different audiences, and no two audiences are the same. I had to learn that skill by just applying it every time.
Vegas is perfect for me being a mom, just in this part of my life. I know you know I have a little illness. I have stupid lupus, and sometimes it picks on me. Drives me to drink. Not really. But what’s great about Vegas is I get to be in one spot and my audience gets to come to me, which makes me an even better performer because I don’t have to tax my body with the grueling part of travel.
Does an audience in, say, Melbourne know the words to “Unbreak My Heart” like one in Vegas does?
Braxton: “Un-Break My Heart” is pretty classic all over the world. So, very fortunate with that. But, for example, let’s say I might sing “Seven Whole Days” in America, but I may not sing that abroad. Some things are international songs and others are just for your community. We get it. It becomes a cultural song.
Ced, comedic vets like Martin Lawrence and Mike Epps are touring all around the country. Any itching to get back on the tour bus?
Cedric: I’m really having fun with this. Of course, I toured for many, many years. I love this idea of doing this residency. Like Toni said, this opportunity to be in one spot, have my audience come to me [is great]. I’ll do some spot dates here and there just to stay active. But officially getting out there, really hitting the cities, I’m probably going to hold off on that and see how this runs out. Hopefully, we’ll build this up and be great and maybe me and Toni will go on tour together.
I was going to ask if Atlanta, Chicago and New York were going to get to see you.
Braxton: Absolutely.
Cedric: I know it’s a part of our deal. MGM has a great property in the D.C. area [MGM National Harbor]. We will do some shows in D.C. But the idea of this, having fun and bringing something different to the stage, it could be fun to be able to pull up in a few of the great American cities, for sure.
Braxton: Yes, I see this living for 10, 12, 20 years. This is a great family for me. I am happy. I think it’s the perfect combination. We’re peanut butter and jelly.
How does the rest of 2024 look like for the both of you?
Braxton: I know Ced is busy with all these great TV shows he’s working on.
Cedric: We go back for the seventh season of The Neighborhood. I’m also producing a show for Tracy Morgan that will start shooting this fall in New York called Crutch. That’ll be on Paramount+. We have more dates that we’re in discussion with [for “Love & Laughter”], so we will perform throughout the fall. Those are some of the big dynamic things.
Braxton: I’m working on a new album. [Legendary music producer] L.A. Reid and I are talking about getting back together again. Coming full circle. I’m really thrilled with everything that’s going on in my life right now. Being in Vegas just tops it off.
