VH1 Divas Las Vegas: A Benefit Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation' Raises Over $1.4 Million to Support Music Education In Public Schools Across The U.S.

Ellen DeGeneres Hosted and Wayne Newton was the Announcer of Live All-Star VH1 Divas' Concert Special Featuring Cher, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, The Dixie Chicks, and Shakira, Plus Special Guests Stevie Nicks, Anastacia, and Cyndi Lauper. Whitney Houston Brings Down the House With Mary J. Blige For a Show Stopping Performance of 'Rainy Dayz'

NEW YORK, May 23 /PRNewswire/ -- "VH1 Divas Las Vegas: A Benefit Concert for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation" rocked the house last night with some of the biggest names in music while raising over $1.4 million for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to restoring instrumental music programs in America's public schools, and to raising awareness of the positive impact that music participation has on students.

Airing live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Thursday, May 23 at 9:00 pm (ET/PT), the fifth annual "VH1 Divas" extravaganza was hosted by Ellen DeGeneres, and Wayne Newton was the announcer of the show, featuring an all-star Diva lineup of Cher, Celine Dion, Mary J. Blige, The Dixie Chicks, and Shakira, plus special guests Stevie Nicks, Anastacia, Cyndi Lauper, and Whitney Houston performing with Mary J. Blige.

Continuing in the "Divas" tradition, "VH1 Divas Las Vegas" brought together some of the biggest names in music today for an exclusive, high-voltage night of unforgettable performances. The evening opened with a duet of Celine and Anastacia on "Shook Me All Night Long." Next, Cher pumped up the house with "A Song for the Lonely" and made them "Believe," then got together with Cyndi to "Turn Back Time." The Dixie Chicks were spotlighted on their own for "Long Time Gone," followed by Shakira and her band rocking "Underneath Your Clothes." And Mary J. took the solo spotlight for "No More Drama" -- then was joined by Whitney for a show-stopping "Rainy Dayz."

The acoustic Chicks came back with "Wide Open Spaces" and, with Stevie Nicks, the latter's "Landslide." Anastacia gave the audience "One Day in Your Life," and Mary J. and Shakira formed an army of two for "Love Is a Battlefield," while new Vegas queen Celine took over with her hits "I'm Alive" and "A New Day Has Come." At the end, music's hottest female voices were all over the songs of Elvis, with Anastacia, The Dixie Chicks, Shakira, Mary J., Stevie, Cher and Celine taking on "Jailhouse Rock," "That's Alright Mama," "Always on My Mind," "Blue Suede Shows" and a few more -- a finale befitting that special relationship between Vegas and The King.

VH1's annual "Divas" specials raise funds for the VH1 Save The Music Foundation. Through partnerships with affiliates and advocates, as well as corporate and national sponsors, VH1 Save The Music conducts awareness campaigns, musical instrument drives, and fundraising events in conjunction with public schools to help restore instrumental music programs. Since VH1 Save The Music was created in 1997, more than $17 million worth of musical instruments has been donated to 750 public schools in 75 cities, improving the lives of more than 250,000 children.

"VH1 Divas Las Vegas" was sponsored by Hydrience by Clairol, Kodak, Crest Whitestrips, Neutrogena, Wendy's Intl., Listerine POCKETPAKS, Infusium 23, Skyy Blue, Visa USA, Diet Pepsi, Chrysler, Target Stores, and Cingular Wireless.

"VH1 Divas Las Vegas" is executive produced by Greg Sills and produced by Paul Flattery; executives in charge of production for VH1, Fred Graver and Lee Rolontz; set and lighting director, Roy Bennett; director, Louis J. Horvitz.

MTV Networks owns and operates the cable television programming services MTV: Music Television, MTV2, Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite, TV Land, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, and TNN, as well as The Digital Suite from MTV Networks, a package of thirteen digital services, all of which are trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks also operates and offers joint ventures, licensing agreements and syndication deals whereby its programming can be seen worldwide.