VH1 hosted the first annual VH1 Divas concert in 1998. VH1 Divas Live was created to support the channel's Save the Music Foundation and subsequent concerts in the series have also benefited that foundation. The VH1 Divas concerts were a follow-up to the channel's annual VH1 Honors benefit concert that ran from 1994 to 1997, airing annually from 1998 to 2004. After a five-year hiatus, the series returned in 2009 with a younger-skewed revamp. In 2010 the concert saluted the troops and in 2011 it celebrated soul music, doubling the previous year's ratings. After a dance music-focused 2012 edition aired live from the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on December 16, 2012, the show took another hiatus before being revived on December 5, 2016, at the Kings Theatre in Brooklyn, New York with a holiday theme and achieved its highest ratings in over a decade.
VH1 Divas Live
VH1 Divas Live: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live on April 14, 1998.
Summary The first "VH1 Divas" show, at New York City's Beacon Theatre, featured international music stars Aretha Franklin, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Mariah Carey and Shania Twain. In a guest appearance, singer-songwriter Carole King led the performers through versions of her songs "You've Got a Friend" and "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman."
Headliners Aretha Franklin Celine Dion Gloria Estefan Mariah Carey Shania Twain
Guest performer Carole King
Presenters Jennifer Aniston Joan Osborne Patricia Arquette Teri Hatcher Sarah McLachlan Sarah Jessica Parker Susan Sarandon
The show was produced by Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, directed by Michael Simon and written by producer/writer Martin Lewis.
Show sequence Mariah Carey – "My All" Mariah Carey – "Make It Happen" Gloria Estefan – "Turn The Beat Around" Gloria Estefan – "Heaven's What I Feel" Gloria Estefan – Megamix: "Dr. Beat" "Conga" "Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" "1-2-3" "Get On Your Feet" Shania Twain – "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" Shania Twain – "You're Still the One" Aretha Franklin – "A Rose Is Still a Rose" – Not released on the live album or home video Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey – "Chain of Fools" Aretha Franklin – "Here We Go Again" – Not released on the live album or home video Celine Dion – "River Deep, Mountain High" Celine Dion and Carole King – "The Reason" Celine Dion – "My Heart Will Go On" Carole King – "It's Too Late" – Not aired in television broadcast, nor released on the live album or home video Carole King, Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan and Shania Twain – "You've Got a Friend" The Divas – "A Natural Woman" The Divas – "Testimony" – Shortened in the home video release
Performances on the album and home video release "My All" – 05:45 "Make It Happen" – 05:29 "Turn The Beat Around" – 05:07 "Heaven's What I Feel" – 04:54 "Dr. Beat"/"Conga"/"Rhythm Is Gonna Get You"/"1-2-3"/"Get on Your Feet" – 03:32 "Man! I Feel Like a Woman" – 03:55 "You're Still the One" – 03:33 "Chain of Fools" – 04:24 "River Deep, Mountain High" – 05:12 "The Reason" – 05:59 "My Heart Will Go On" – 04:41 "You've Got a Friend" – 05:29 "A Natural Woman" – 05:15 "Testimony" – 09:47
Charts ChartPositionU.S. Billboard 20021Canadian Albums Chart12French Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique7Netherlands MegaCharts7Norwegian VG-lista9New Zealand Recorded Music NZ10
Certifications
Reviews New York Times Pop Review All Music review
Musician credits (in order of appearance)Musician's Union Contract, AFM Local 802 -5765-50010956
Mariah Carey's band: Randy Jackson – bass; Gigi Gonaway – drums; Vernon Black – guitar; Andrew Sherman – keyboards; Michael Mcknight – programmer; Juliet Haffner – viola; Laura Seaton, Andre E. Stien, Peter M. Weimar – violins; Marquino Brazil – percussion; Melonie Daniels, Nicki Richards, Sherry Mcghee, Mary Ann Tatum – background vocals Gloria Estefan's band: Jorge Casa – bass; Clay Ostwald – keyboards; Tim Mitchell, René Toledo – guitars; Olin Burgos – drums; Randy Barlow – trombone and trumpet; Teddy Mulet, Douglas Michaels – trumpet; Kenny Anderson, Tom Timko – saxes/reeds; Rita Quintero, Juan "Chieto" Quiñonez, George Noriega, Donna Allen – vocals Shania Twain's band: Brent Barcus – guitar; Andrew Cichon – bass; James Blair – drums; Cory Churko, Allison Cornell – mandolin and fiddle; Marc D. Muller – pedal steel; Hardy Hempill – keyboards Aretha Franklin's band: H.B. Barnum – conductor; David Rokeach – drums; Francisco Centeno – bass; Teddy Richards – guitar; Richard Gibbs – piano; Darryll Houston – organ; Byron Strippling, Glenn Drews, Jorge Arciniega – trumpet; Robert Trowers, Larry Farrell, Keith O'Quinn – trombone; Lawrence Feldman, Dave Tofani, Ernie Fields Jr., Roger Rosenberg – sax; Mae Kohn, Diana Madison, William Moore – background vocals; Jaqui Whitman – tambourine; Michael Beardon – keyboards; Joe Passaro – percussion Celine Dion's band: Claude "Mégo" Lemay – keyboards; Dominique Messier – drums; Ives "Ivo" Frulla – keyboards; André Coutu – guitars; Paul Picard – percussion; Élise Dugay - background vocals and tin whistle; Terry Bradford, Julie LeBlanc – background vocals
Aretha's band was used for her duet with Mariah Carey ("Chain of Fools") and the finale ("A Natural Woman" and "Testimony").
VH1 Divas Live/99
VH1 Divas Live/99: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live on April 13, 1999.
Headliners Whitney Houston Tina Turner Cher Brandy
Special guest performer Elton John
Guest performers Mary J. Blige Chaka Khan Faith Hill Treach LeAnn Rimes
Presenters Ana Gasteyer Sarah Michelle Gellar Elizabeth Hurley Ashley Judd Cheri Oteri Gloria Reuben Molly Shannon Claudia Schiffer Celebrities shown in the audience included Hugh Grant, Donald Trump, Susan Lucci, Star Jones, Martha Stewart, Paul Shaffer, RuPaul and Caroline Rhea. Paul Gorman was also present.
Show sequence Tina Turner – "The Best" Tina Turner – "Let's Stay Together" – Not released on CD or DVD Tina Turner and Elton John – "The Bitch Is Back" Tina Turner, Elton John, and Cher – "Proud Mary" Elton John – "I'm Still Standing" Elton John and LeAnn Rimes – "Written in the Stars" – Not released on CD or DVD LeAnn Rimes – "How Do I Live" Elton John – "Like Father Like Son" – Not released on CD or DVD Cher – "If I Could Turn Back Time" Cher – "Believe" – Not released on CD or DVD Brandy – "Have You Ever?"/ Almost Doesn't Count Brandy and Faith Hill – "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" Faith Hill – "This Kiss" Whitney Houston – "It's Not Right, But It's Okay" – Not released on CD or DVD; audio version now available for download on iTunes Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige – "Ain't No Way" Whitney Houston and Treach – "My Love Is Your Love" – Not released on CD or DVD; audio version now available for download on iTunes Whitney Houston – "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan – "I'm Every Woman" Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Brandy, LeAnn Rimes, and Mary J. Blige – "I'm Every Woman (reprise)"
Performances on the CD, VHS, and DVD release Tina Turner – "The Best" Tina Turner and Elton John – "The Bitch Is Back" Tina Turner, Elton John, and Cher – "Proud Mary" Cher – "If I Could Turn Back Time" LeAnn Rimes – "How Do I Live" Elton John – "I'm Still Standing" Brandy – "Have You Ever?"/"Almost Doesn't Count" Brandy and Faith Hill – "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" Faith Hill – "This Kiss" Whitney Houston and Mary J. Blige – "Ain't No Way" Whitney Houston – "I Will Always Love You" Whitney Houston and Chaka Khan – "I'm Every Woman" Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Brandy, Mary J. Blige, and LeAnn Rimes – "I'm Every Woman (reprise)"
Charts and certification Chart (2000)ProviderPeakpositionCertificationAustralian Albums ChartARIA11GoldAustrian Albums ChartMedia Control43French Albums ChartSNEP/IFOP42Dutch Albums ChartIFPI41German Top 100 AlbumsMedia Control60Swiss Top 100 AlbumsMedia Control14U.S. Billboard 200Billboard90 Gold (CD) / Gold (DVD)
VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross – An Honors Concert for the VH1 Save the Music Foundation was the first of three concerts in the series not aired live. It was recorded on April 9, 2000 at New York's Madison Square Garden and first aired on April 11, 2000. Diana Ross requested the concert be recorded as time constraints for the airing of commercials would not allow enough time for her to change costumes. The well-received show took a mammoth 6 hours to record. This special also marked the re-introduction of Lynda Laurence and Scherrie Payne as Supremes, who were touring with Diana Ross. Laurence and Payne were Supremes during the 1970s.
The concert was never released on CD or DVD. Two of the songs were released as b-sides of singles from Mariah Carey and Destiny's Child.
Headliners Diana Ross Mariah Carey Donna Summer Faith Hill
Guest performers Scherrie Payne Lynda Laurence Destiny's Child RuPaul
Presenters Angela Bassett Ana Gasteyer Cheri Oteri Molly Shannon Hilary Swank
Show sequence Mariah Carey – "Love Hangover/Heartbreaker (Remix)" – Audio released on Mariah's single "Can't Take That Away" Donna Summer – "Reflections" Faith Hill – "Breathe" Faith Hill – "Love Child" Donna Summer – "Bad Girls" Donna Summer – "Love Is The Healer" Mariah Carey – "Can't Take That Away (Mariah's Theme)" – Audio released on the 25th Anniversary edition of Mariah's "Rainbow" Album Faith Hill – "What's In It For Me" RuPaul – "I'm Coming Out" Destiny's Child – "Say My Name" Destiny's Child – "Upside Down" – Audio released on Destiny's Child single "Jumpin', Jumpin'" Diana Ross – "Touch Me In The Morning" Diana Ross – "Endless Love" Diana Ross – "The Best Years Of My Life" Diana Ross & The Supremes – "You Keep Me Hangin' On" Diana Ross & The Supremes – "Love Is Like an Itching in My Heart" Diana Ross and Mariah Carey – Medley: "Baby Love" and "Stop! In the Name of Love" The Divas – "Ain't No Mountain High Enough" Diana Ross – "I Will Survive"
VH1 Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin
The event occurred on April 10, 2001, and was released on CD/DVD in 2017 by MVD Visual.
Headliners Aretha Franklin Marc Anthony Mary J. Blige Backstreet Boys Celia Cruz Nelly Furtado Jill Scott Kid Rock
Guest performers Bishop Paul Morton & Choir James Carter Ron Carter Herbie Hancock Roy Haynes Russell Malone Clark Terry Stevie Wonder
Presenters Pamela Anderson Lorraine Bracco Drea de Matteo Edie Falco Janet Jackson Aida Turturro Sigourney Weaver Renée Zellweger
Show sequence Aretha Franklin – "I Can't Turn You Loose" Aretha Franklin and Backstreet Boys – "Chain Of Fools" Aretha Franklin – "Ain't No Way" Marc Anthony and Celia Cruz – "Quimbara" – Not released on CD or DVD Jill Scott – "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman" Jill Scott – "A Long Walk" Aretha Franklin – "Think" Nelly Furtado – "I'm Like a Bird" – Not released on CD or DVD Mary J. Blige – "Day Dreaming" Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin – "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man" Aretha Franklin – "Nessun Dorma" Aretha Franklin with Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, James Carter, and Russell Malone – Mumbles – Not released on CD or DVD Aretha Franklin and Kid Rock – "Rock Steady" Aretha Franklin with Bishop Paul Morton & Choir – "Precious Memories" Aretha Franklin – "Respect" Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Celia Cruz, Nelly Furtado, Backstreet Boys, Stevie Wonder, Marc Anthony, Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Ron Carter, Roy Haynes, James Carter, Russell Malone, and Aretha Franklin's Band – "Freeway Of Love" – Only released on DVD Aretha Franklin and Willa Ward – "Weeping May Endure For A Night"/"Surely God Is Able" – Not broadcast or released
VH1 Divas Las Vegas
VH1 Divas Las Vegas: An Honors Concert For The VH1 Save The Music Foundation aired live from the MGM Grand Las Vegas on May 23, 2002. For the first time, Divas Live broadcast from a city other than New York. This time around, Las Vegas played host city to the fifth Divas concert.