Columnist Kate Maddox: Easton booking a room at Hilton

Kate Maddox

Tuesday, April 17, 2001 | 8:14 a.m.

Kate Maddox's column appears Tuesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Reach her at 259-2309 or kmaddox@lasvegassun.com.

Anew and improved Sheena Easton is thisclose to signing a deal to take over the NightClub at the Las Vegas Hilton. Easton, who has been shopping hard for a Vegas deal since leaving "At the Copa," could be up and running in the 320-seat room by June.

Buzz on the deal has her staying through the end of the summer, with an option to extend if ticket sales are strong.

This is all good news for Easton, whose reported tempestuous relationship with former co-star David Cassidy was the source of much gossip throughout the one-year run of the Rio's "At the Copa." Rumored battles over everything from spotlight-stealing to chemistry between the stars to Easton's weight gain allegedly plagued the singer's relationship with Cassidy.

Cassidy has publicly denied he had any personal problems with Easton, and he attributed closing "At the Copa" to his desire to spend more time with his family. Cassidy is currently on tour.

Family is what inspired Easton to give Las Vegas a second chance. Close friends say Easton's two children love Las Vegas and are looking forward to spending the summer here. And this time around, her show will be a one-woman gig.

"(The rumored Hilton deal) won't be a production show," said one source. "It's just going to be her and her hits ... and she sounds great." Insiders insist Easton is strong and in good enough shape to carry a show on her own, with just the help of a backup band.

The Material Girl is headed for a Strip show. Madonna is lined up to play the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 1. If you're hoping to land a ticket, start saving now. One source says tickets to the show will start in the $300 range and will go on sale in June or July.

And keep on saving if you're an Aerosmith fan, or a Queen fan. Steven Tyler and company also are rumored to be making a Las Vegas stop in the coming months, possibly at the MGM as well.

As for the Queen concert, taking over for the late Freddie Mercury will be British popster Robbie Williams. Mercury died in 1991. Williams has already recorded a new version of the 1977 hit "We Are the Champions" with the remaining members of Queen. I hear a concert date in Las Vegas is already on the books. Look for them to hit town before the end of the year.

One Las Vegas performer can't wait for Madonna to return. Her old flame, and Sunset Station headliner, Louie Louie, credits the Material Miss with helping inspire his own musical career.

"She's so cool. She's just the bomb," Louie Louie said. "I'm going to ask her to listen to my new album (entitled "Dance! Love! Work!)" Louie Louie, whose real name is Louie Cordero, said he last saw the singer in 1997, but he hopes to catch up when she hits town in September. "She's great. She'll always see me," he said.

For the record, Louie Louie was Madonna's love interest in one of her first videos. He played her bad-boy boy-toy in "Borderline" in 1984.

Things might be a little crowded, but that's not stopping Bon Jovi from fulfilling an obligation at the Graceland Wedding Chapel. Saturday night, following their concert at the MGM Grand, Jon Bon Jovi and Richie Sambora will serenade 75 couples with an acoustic version of "Thank You for Loving Me." All the participants scored the miniconcert by winning a national radio contest. Graceland Chapel, which holds an audience of 35 comfortably, will erect a tent in the parking lot to accommodate the lovebirds. It doesn't get more romantic than that.