When the calendar page flips to December, tourists and residents alike enjoy plenty of cool Las Vegas weather and gorgeous holiday decorations. They can also count on the return of National Finals Rodeo (NFR) and its unofficial King of Entertainment, Rodney Carrington.
Blue-collar funnyman Carrington and the annual gathering of rodeo enthusiasts go together like Santa Claus and candy canes. Perhaps that’s why the raucous actor/comedian/singer returns to MGM Grand year after year during the annual event. This holiday season, he’s back for 10 outrageous performances.
Not every stand-up comic can boast about a singing career, but Carrington has woven music and laughter together from the beginning. His first album, 1998’s Hangin’ With Rodney, featured witty songs and comical interludes in a unique, inimitable style. Subsequent albums blended funny lyrics and stand-up bits to varying degrees until 2007’s “Angel Friend,” a serious and heartfelt memorial song to a close pal.
But even through the pain of loss, Carrington finds a way to make us laugh at our everyday existence. His sitcom Rodney plunked the Texas-born star into a fictionalized version of his personal life and career path. The program depicted the challenges of being a responsible husband and father figure while pursuing the unlikely dream of stardom in stand-up comedy.
Ironically, the long hours devoted to that sitcom family strained Carrington’s relationship with wife Terri and their three sons. Terri filed for divorce shortly after the show wrapped, bringing their 18-year marriage to a close. Ever an optimist, the Blue Collar Comedy alumnus threw himself deeper into live performance with plenty of new material gleaned from the experience. After all, relationship issues and ex-wives have always been comedic gold.
The past decade or so has seen Carrington expanding his reach to an ever-growing fan base. He co-wrote and starred in his first feature film (Beer For My Horses), penned the hardcover book Coming Clean and hosted a variety of awards and variety shows. His Netflix special Here Comes The Truth and an accompanying album became available in 2017.
Just last month, Carrington dropped his newest comedy record Get Em Out. He’s currently on tour to promote it while sharing his latest jokes and humorous tales. Rodeo fans (and everyone else) will get a heaping helping of laughter along with songs from Make It Christmas, his one and only holiday album. Make It Christmas was released exactly a decade ago and features the hit single “Camouflage and Christmas Lights,” a salute to servicemen, their families and the sacrifices they make during the holidays. It’s also reflective of the compassionate man who sings it.
Despite his rough-and-tumble exterior, Carrington is sometimes a softie who shares a personal bond with his fans. His comedy brings audiences together, allowing us to find humor in the world despite our troubled times. And that makes it the perfect show for a holiday in Vegas.
MGM Grand, 10 p.m. through Dec. 14, starting at $59.99 plus tax and fee. 800.745.3000 Ticketmaster
