John Legend To Headline Vegas Gala For Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational

GRAMMY Award-winning artist John Legend will headline the 12th Annual Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational (MJCI) Celebration in Las Vegas with a private performance at ARIA Resort & Casino , Friday, April 5 . Legend will take the stage at the annual invite-only party for the tournament’s celebrities and VIP invited guests.The soulful singer, songwriter and pianist will perform hits throughout the evening, including songs from his new album Love in the Future (co-produced by Legend, Kanye West and Dave Tozer), scheduled for release this June. The celebration also will feature a performance by Blue Man Group , which recently introduced an entirely new, mega-enhanced show at Monte Carlo Resort and Casino. Famed comedian and television personality Wayne Brady will emcee the evening’s festivities.The annual gala will mark a night of celebration following the two-day Celebrity-Amateur tournament April 4 and 5, which pairs one celebrity with four amateur participants; and lead into the weekend’s MJCI two-person, 36-hole scramble format tournament, including only competing celebrities, April 6 and 7.Hosted by ARIA Resort & Casino and returning to Shadow Creek, MJCI marks only the third time in history that the exclusive golf course will open its doors to the public. Proceeds from the charitable tournament will benefit Make-A-Wish; James R. Jordan Foundation; Opportunity Village; and Cats Care, the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats’ charity arm; as well as the participating celebrities’ charities of choice. Since its inception in 2001, MJCI has raised more than $6 million for charity.MJCI celebrities scheduled to attend include host Michael Jordan, Marcus Allen, Anthony Anderson, Miles Austin, Brian Baumgartner, Jerome Bettis, Wayne Brady*, Chevy Chase, Brandi Chastain, Chris Chelios, Roger Clemens, Vince Coleman, Brian Cushing, Richard Dent, Julius Erving, Josh Freeman, Dwight Freeney, Wayne Gretzky, Ken Griffey Jr., Penny Hardaway, Brett Hull, Dan Jansen, Dustin Johnson, Janet Jones-Gretzky, Toni Kukoc, Mario Lemieux, Greg Maddux, Win McMurry, Christina Milian, Von Miller, DeMarco Murray, Kevin Nealon, Jonathan Ogden, Paul O’Neill, Jake Owen, Michael Phelps, Ahmad Rashad, Jerry Rice, Salli Richardson, Rob Riggle, Stuart Scott, Ozzie Smith, Jason Taylor, Alan Thicke, Winky Wright, Adrian Young and more.*Non-Golfer