Jennifer Lopez Reclaims Her Throne: Inside the Spectacular Opening of “Up All Night Live” in Las Vegas
From the moment Jennifer Lopez concluded her record-breaking, $100 million-grossing All I Have residency at Planet Hollywood in 2018, the entertainment world has been buzzing with anticipation regarding her inevitable return to the Las Vegas Strip. After a seven-year hiatus, the global icon finally unveiled her latest creative chapter, Up All Night Live, during an announcement at the May 2025 American Music Awards.
On December 30, following months of intense preparation and enigmatic social media teasers, that anticipation culminated in an electrifying debut. Before a capacity crowd of over 4,000 at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, Lopez delivered a sensory-rich performance that blurred the lines between high-fashion fantasy and raw reality, characterized by intricate choreography and a wardrobe heavy on shimmering sequins.
Lopez, a master of the grand entrance, kicked off the two-hour odyssey of pop, R&B, and Latin rhythms with a Broadway-inspired overture. The sequence featured a bold rendition of “Let Me Entertain You” from Gypsy, a vibrant mash-up of her 1999 hit “Waiting for Tonight” with West Side Story’s “Mambo,” and a sophisticated, jazz-infused take on “Jenny From the Block,” before rounding out the opening block with the 2007 anthem “Do It Well.”
This opening set the stage for a production that transcended the typical “greatest hits” format. Instead, Lopez curated a living retrospective of her evolution as an artist, weaving together music, dance, and fashion to document her career milestones. In a nostalgic nod to their early-2000s dominance, rapper Ja Rule joined her on stage to perform their chart-topping collaborations, “Ain’t It Funny” and “I’m Real.”
The defining characteristic of this new residency is Lopez’s role as the evening’s narrator. Throughout the show, she offers candid reflections on resilience, the necessity of reinvention, and the relentless work ethic required to maintain her stature in the industry. These vulnerable interludes provided emotional depth to a production designed for the grandeur of The Colosseum—a legendary stage previously graced by icons such as Celine Dion, Adele, Cher, and Mariah Carey.
The Opening Night Setlist: Up All Night Live
ACT 1: The Theatrical Opening
- “Let Me Entertain You” (Gypsy)
- “Waiting for Tonight” / ”Mambo” (West Side Story)
- “Jenny From the Block” (Jazz Arrangement)
- “Do It Well”
ACT 2: The Urban Evolution
- “Love Don’t Cost a Thing”
- “I’m a Woman” (Peggy Lee Cover)
- “Ain’t Your Mama”
- “Louboutins”
- “Ain’t It Funny” (feat. Ja Rule)
- “I’m Real” (feat. Ja Rule)
- “All I Have”
- “Get Right”
ACT 3: The Cinematic Heart
- “Kiss of the Spider Woman”
- “Whatever Lola Wants” (Sarah Vaughan Cover)
- “I’m Into You”
- “El Anillo”
- “Young and Beautiful” (Lana Del Rey Cover)
- “If You Had My Love”
- “Heartbreak Hotel” (Elvis Presley Cover)
- “Booty”
ACT 4: The Grand Finale
- “Get Happy” (Judy Garland Cover)
- “Dance Again”
- “Play”
- “On the Floor”
- “Don’t Rain on My Parade” (Barbra Streisand Cover)
- “Let’s Get Loud”
