Vegas, baby! That’s me – a girl born and raised in a city where everyone dreams of being a showgirl. Well, maybe that was just my dream. Unfortunately, with a bad knee and a height of barely 5’2,” I had to reconsider. Instead, I honed my singing skills and became the youngest contestant on “American Idol.”
People often ask how long I’ve been a singer, and the truth is, my whole life! My father, a jazz musician, passed down his passion for music, inspired by artists including Billie Holiday and Miles Davis. My grandfather, also a jazz artist, shared stories of playing with Holiday.
While I now appreciate those artists, I have vivid memories of begging my dad to turn the car radio to 98.5 KLUC. I loved his jazz, so why couldn’t he love The Spice Girls and Nelly?!
By age 6, I had a vocal coach, Ms. Helen Wray, who believed in me so much that she didn’t charge my family for lessons. At 8, I was performing at top Las Vegas hotels with entertainers including Charo, Tony Sacca and even Tony Bennett (sorry, Gaga, I did it first, lol!).
At 16, I auditioned for “American Idol” and landed in the Top 12 of Season 4. After the show, I moved to L.A., appeared on Fran Drescher’s “Living With Fran” and hosted “American Idol Extra” for four seasons. I discovered a love for making people laugh, leading me to standup comedy, headlining at The Laugh Factory and The Comedy Store.
Social media opened new doors, and I developed a Melania Trump characterization, gaining 1.6 million followers on TikTok! My partner in crime was John Di Domenico (as Trump), also from Las Vegas.
In 2016, I moved back to Las Vegas for my residency at Rose.Rabbit.Lie. inside The Cosmopolitan, but soon enough L.A. called again. I returned, began a career in radio, where I hosted a national morning show for five years. I also recorded my first album, “Vivian,” named after my grandmother.
Now I’m back in Las Vegas and wouldn’t change a thing. I am engaged to the love of my life, DJ Lisa Pittman, and surrounded by friends, family and Las Vegas nightlife. I’m thriving. Recently, I announced my singing residency at Nowhere Lounge inside Fontainebleau Las Vegas and at Delilah at The Wynn. I created a podcast, “So Funny It Hurts,” interviewing comedians and exploring the trauma that makes them hilarious (laughter is the best medicine).
In a full-circle moment, I landed a job as the co-host of “The Chet Buchanan Show” on 98.5 KLUC. Remember when I begged my dad to play KLUC? When I got the job, I called my dad, and we just cried and laughed.
I love being from Vegas, growing up here and seeing the city’s incredible transformation. If I’ve learned anything from Vegas, it’s to always bet on yourself.
