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Kelly Clarkson put on a relatable and musically accomplished show

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Kelly Clarkson performs at Mandalay Bay Events Center.
Photo: Erik Kabik

Three and a half stars

Kelly Clarkson August 15, Mandalay Bay Events Center.

Even 13 years into her career as a pop star, Kelly Clarkson is still a gushing fan at heart. Every night on tour, she and her band work up a different cover song, and Clarkson has no shortage of favorites to pick from. At the Mandalay Bay Events Center on Saturday night, the cover of choice was Lana del Rey’s sultry “Off to the Races,” which Clarkson and her band performed with such confidence and intricacy that it was hard to imagine they’d just learned the song that day. Elsewhere in the set, Clarkson beamed when introducing back-up singer Bridget Sarai, who took a turn on lead vocals for a version of “Proud Mary,” heaped praise on opening act Pentatonix when the a cappella group joined her to harmonize on “Heartbeat Song” and gave Sarai and her fellow back-up singers another spotlight to open the encore with a version of Jessie J’s “Bang Bang.”

Clarkson is remarkably humble and down-to-earth for a multiplatinum-selling singer playing arena shows, and her enthusiasm for interacting with the audience always came across as genuine. When she got a bit choked up while singing the very personal lyrics of the title track from her recent album Piece by Piece, there was no question that those emotions were real. Clarkson combined that authentic feeling with her still phenomenal voice, which could bring to life even a mediocre song like treacly new single “Invincible.” Her generosity in sharing the spotlight is endearing, but it was her own voice singing her own songs, both hits and deep cuts, that made the night a success.

Setlist:

“Dance With Me”

“My Life Would Suck Without You”

“Catch My Breath”

“Nostalgic”

“Mr. Know It All”

“Invincible”

“Piece by Piece”

“Because of You”

“Breakaway”

“Tightrope”

“Take You High”

“Behind These Hazel Eyes”

“Proud Mary”

“Off to the Races”

“Thankful”

“What Doesn’t Kill You (Stronger)”

“Heartbeat Song”

“Walk Away”/“Uptown Funk”

Encore:

“Bang Bang”

“Miss Independent”

“Since U Been Gone”

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