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March 28, 2024

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J.Lo promises ‘All I Have’ during big closing night at iHeartRadio Festival

2015 iHeartRadio: Day 2

Al Powers / Powers Imagery / Invision / AP

Jennifer Lopez performs with Alvaro Soler during Day 2 of the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena.

2015 iHeartRadio: Day 2

Jennifer Lopez performs during Day 2 of the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Launch slideshow »

2015 iHeartRadio: Day 2 Red Carpet

Blake Shelton arrives at the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival red carpet Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Launch slideshow »

2015 iHeartRadio: Daytime Village

Trey Songz performs during the Daytime Village at the 2015 iHeartRadio Music Festival on Saturday, Sept. 19, 2015, across from the Luxor. Launch slideshow »

The iHeartRadio Music Festival lumbered out of MGM Grand Garden Arena on Saturday night, capping about 12 hours of music of all variety over the spectacle’s two-night run.

Count the outdoor performances at MGM Resorts Village across from the Luxor, and we must, and more than 18 hours of music was rolled out over the festival’s three shows.

The iHeartRadio Festival was conceived to promote Clear Channel radio stations across the country, and the enduring power of that entertainment company has always been evident by the quality and range of artists who commit to the festival.

This year’s lineup was as robust as ever, though late drops by Janet Jackson (for an ear malady) and The Who (viral meningitis for Roger Daltrey) cut into the top-level acts.

Nonetheless, Saturday’s stars stormed through a crisply paced festival, attempting to recharge the crowd as it grew weary with repeated anthemic performances.

The big news of the night was imparted at high volume by Jennifer Lopez, who used the stage at MGM Grand Garden Arena to announce the title of her residency at Axis at Planet Hollywood.

“Everybody is asking me, what will this show be like? We’re still planning it now!” she told the crowd. “But I will tell you this right now! I will be giving you ‘All I Have!’ ”

With that, the big screen showed the “official artwork” of the show, which was quite alluring but not a match for the actual J.Lo at the middle of the stage in her dynamic white stage getup. The Lopez run begins Jan. 20, the first of 20 dates (info at JLoVegas.com).

That big announcement, and J.Lo’s big-fly performance, helped make the final night of the fifth iHeartRadio show a night of grand relevance. More big moments from Saturday’s show:

Big Shake: That’s again J.Lo, who swung around in her skin-tight one-piece and shook it up pretty good during “Booty.” It was great fun, if you’re into that sort of thing, and J.Lo showed that she is a showwoman who knows how to seize attention. The title of her show fits her as well as that outfit.

Big Buddy: That’s how Blake Shelton comes across, as he told the audience, “I plan on drinking tonight,” and held up a red cup. It looked plastic. It looked Solo.

“I want y’all to know, I got nervous,” Shelton said from the stage when he realized that he was to follow J.Lo’s blowout set. “And when I get nervous, I tend to drink a little bit.”

But Shelton, similar in this way to J.Lo, is a seasoned pro. He closed out with “Boys Round Here,” leaving the stage with his cup held aloft.

Big Rockers: The Weeknd opened the night and Fall Out Boy was the penultimate act. They both blasted the rock and roll; Fall Out Boy was joined on “Centuries” by hip-hop star Fetty Wap in a great slamming of genres. Fall Out Boy’s appearance reminded that the band was named for a superhero character on “The Simpsons.”

Big Guests: Puff Daddy welcomed unannounced guests Busta Rhymes, Lil’ Kim, Mase, MGK and Tori Kelly. Lil’ Kim and MGK joined for “All About the Benjamins,” and Kelly sang Skylar Grey’s lines on “Coming Home.” Rhymes, donning a blood red jacket, was out for “Pass the Courvoisier Part 2,” as Diddy, or Daddy, or Puff, left the audience exhausted.

Big Heartthrobs: Trey Songz, Prince Royce and Nick Jonas. Songz performed with great energy even as his right hand was casted and still managed to strip his shirt (an act that has become an iHeartRadio Festival hallmark).

Royce brought a lucky lady named “Lexy” to the stage for “Lucky One.” Jonas is all grown up now, far removed from his boyband era, as he grooved with his backing dancers while wearing a macho leather jacket and showed that he’s an adept guitarist. That trifecta showed the music industry that charisma has a future as bright as Songz’s teeth.

Big Break: Big Sean’s quick appearance, a censored “I Don’t F*ck With You,” brought to mind his bold move in Detroit a decade ago that helped launch his career. He hung out after Detroit radio station WPZR 102-FM’s interview with Kanye West, then begged the rapper/producer for a shot to perform freestyle as West entered the building.

West allowed 16 bars of freestyle, liked what he heard and took Sean’s demo tape. West eventually signed Sean to the Good Music label.

Big Pyro: DJ Diplo closed the show with extreme fireworks during “Lean On” and “Where Are U Now?”

Follow John Katsilometes on Twitter at Twitter.com/JohnnyKats. Also, follow “Kats With the Dish” at Twitter.com/KatsWiththeDish.

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