‘America’s Got Talent’ winner Michael Grimm to play Green Valley Ranch

By Kyle B. Hansen

Saturday, Dec. 18, 2010 | 12:05 p.m.

After winning “America’s Got Talent” and touring the country, Michael Grimm is coming home for Christmas and a special concert Sunday at Green Valley Ranch.

It will be the first Las Vegas-area performance for the 30-year-old singer-songwriter since he won the TV show in September and went on tour with other contestants for the show.

He’s calling the event “Home for the Holidays.”

“And home it is,” he said. “I’ve been in Vegas for 10 years and although I’m from Mississippi, my heart is in Las Vegas. I love being here; I don’t think I’ll ever move.”

Grimm, 30, was raised by his grandparents in Mississippi after his parents got a divorce. In 2000, he came to Las Vegas and started performing at various lounges, clubs and steakhouses.

In 2005, he began performing as part of a small group at Hank’s Fine Steaks and Martinis at Green Valley Ranch. Soon after, he became a regular performer as part of a 12-piece band at Ovation Lounge at the resort.

Since appearing on “America’s Got Talent,” he’s only been back to Green Valley Ranch once, a quick visit to Hank’s after only a few episodes of the show, and the place was packed.

“I guess I’m realizing the power of TV,” he said with a laugh.

Sunday’s concert at the Ovation Lounge gives Grimm a little more room to do his thing after the worries of the “music business” and “politics” brought on by the show and tour, he said.

“It’s a nice release,” he said. “I haven’t really got to get on stage and do what I do, which is sing, and this gives me the chance to go back to singing for all my fans and people who haven’t heard me for a while. It’s going to be nice.”

The concert will be a mix of his own songs and covers, along with a few Christmas tunes, Grimm said.

And he hopes he’ll be back at Green Valley Ranch a lot.

“Vegas is a place I’ve been playing for 10 years,” he said. “It’s a great place to perform. People come in from everywhere and they love going to go Vegas.”