In 1998, VH1 debuted the first annual VH1 Divas concert. The first concert, VH1 Divas Live was created to support the station's "Save The Music Foundation", and subsequent concerts in the series have also benefitted that foundation. The concerts became an immediate success and consequently VH1 Divas aired annually from 1998 - 2004. VH1 announced on April 20 2009 that after a five year hiatus the show would come back in September 17 2009 [1]. The nine concerts drew unique, one-off performances from show business' greats, or "divas", including Mariah Carey, Cher, Patti LaBelle, Celine Dion, Shakira, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, RuPaul, Kelly Clarkson, Anastacia, Diana Ross, Pat Benatar, Ashanti, Blondie, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé, Carole King, Aretha Franklin, Chaka Khan, Mary J. Blige, Celia Cruz, Jewel, Destiny's Child, The Pussycat Dolls, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, Donna Summer, Faith Hill, Nelly Furtado, LeAnn Rimes, Brandy, Paula Abdul, Cyndi Lauper, Jessica Simpson, Jill Scott, Leona Lewis, Queen Latifah, The Dixie Chicks, Gladys Knight, Stevie Nicks, Adele, Joss Stone, Stevie Wonder and Elton John. Some of the Divas who were invited, and either declined their invitation or cancelled their appearance on the show are: Barbra Streisand - invited in 1998 and in 1999, Lauryn Hill - invited in 1998, TLC - cancelled in 1999, Christina Aguilera - invited in 2000, Britney Spears -invited in 2002 and 2004, Jennifer Lopez - invited in 2002, and Kylie Minogue - cancelled in 2004. VH1's Divas specials raise funds 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. Since "VH1 Save The Music" was created in 1997, more than $25 million worth of musical instruments has been donated to 1000 public schools in 80 cities, improving the lives of more than 500,000 children.

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Divas 1998

VH1 Divas Live: An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music , aired live from New York City's Beacon Theatre on April 14, 1998.

• Performers:

(in order of appearance)

• *Mariah Carey
• *Gloria Estefan
• *Shania Twain
• *Aretha Franklin
• *Celine Dion
• *Carole King

• Presenters at this concert included: Jennifer Aniston, Patricia Arquette, Teri Hatcher,Sarah McLachlan, Sarah Jessica Parker and Susan Sarandon. The show was produced by Grammys producer Ken Ehrlich, directed by Michael Simon and written by producer/writer Martin Lewis.

Show sequence

#"My All" (Mariah Carey) #"Make It Happen" (Mariah Carey) #"Turn The Beat Around" (Gloria Estefan) #"Heaven's What I Feel" (Gloria Estefan) #Megamix: (Gloria Estefan) ##"Dr. Beat" ##"Conga" ##"Rhythm Is Gonna Get You" ##"1-2-3" ##"Get On Your Feet" #"Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" (Shania Twain) #"You're Still the One" (Shania Twain) #"A Rose Is Still A Rose" (Aretha Franklin) #"Chain of Fools" (Aretha Franklin and Mariah Carey) #"Here We Go Again" (Aretha Franklin) #"River Deep, Mountain High" (Celine Dion) #"The Reason" (Celine Dion and Carole King) #"My Heart Will Go On" (Celine Dion) #"You've Got a Friend" (Celine Dion, Gloria Estefan, Shania Twain, and Carole King) #"(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" (the Divas) #"Testimony" (the Divas)

Performances on the CD 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 # "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman" – 05:15 # "Testimony" – 09:47

Reviews

Divas 1999

VH1 Divas Live 2: An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music , aired live from New York’s Beacon Theatre on April 13, 1999.

Plot

Strutting through the audience, the indomitable Tina Turner opens VH1's Divas Live 99 by launching into "The Best". She and honorary diva Elton John belt out an energetic version of "The Bitch Is Back", but the highlight is when Turner teases the captivated audience during the slow, sultry opening of "Proud Mary." A sexy dervish on stage, Turner easily out-swaggers her younger backup singer-dancers. Cher joins her to wrap up the classic hit, then segues into her own set in which she plays "Believe" (not released) and "If I Could Turn Back Time" with her staying power. After that, Leann Rimes performs "How Do I Live" with a sure, powerful voice. Next to her, Brandy sings with a pleasant and soft voice three of her ballads, which appeared on Never Say Never . "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" was sung as a duet with Faith Hill enters. The Superstar diva Whitney Houston sang then five songs, "It's Not Right But It's Okay", "Ain't No Way", "I Will Always Love You", "My Love Is Your Love" and "I'm Every Woman"; of which only "I Will Always Love You" "Ain't No Way" and "I'm Every Woman" were used on the DVD release. Mary J. Blige featured on Houston's rendition of "Ain't No Way", and Chaka Khan joined Houston for the closing number "I'm Every Woman".

Performers

(in order of appearance)

• Tina Turner
• Elton John
• Cher
• LeAnn Rimes
• Brandy
• Faith Hill
• Whitney Houston
• Mary J. Blige
• Treach
• Chaka Khan

Presenters

• Sarah Michelle Gellar
• Gloria Reuben
• Elizabeth Hurley
• Ashley Judd
• Cheri Oteri (as Mariah Carey)
• Ana Gasteyer (as Celine Dion)
• Molly Shannon (as Shania Twain)
• Claudia Schiffer.
• Celebrities shown in the audience included Donald Trump, Susan Lucci, Star Jones, Martha Stewart, Paul Shaffer, and others.

Set List

• Tina Turner - "The Best"
• Tina Turner - "Let's Stay Together" – Not released on CD or DVD
• Tina Turner & Elton John - "The Bitch Is Back"
• Tina Turner, Elton John, & Cher - "Proud Mary"
• Elton John - "I'm Still Standing"
• Elton John & 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 & 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; However, audio version now available for download on US iTunes Store
• Whitney Houston & Mary J. Blige - "Ain't No Way"
• Whitney Houston & Treach - "My Love Is Your Love" – Not released on CD or DVD; However, audio version now available for download on US iTunes Store
• Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You"
• Whitney Houston & Chaka Khan - "I'm Every Woman"
• Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Brandy, LeAnn Rimes & Mary J. Blige - "I'm Every Woman (reprise)"

CD Track listing

#Tina Turner - "The Best" #Tina Turner & Elton John - "The Bitch Is Back" #Tina Turner, Elton John & 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 & Faith Hill - "(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" #Faith Hill - "This Kiss" #Whitney Houston & Mary J. Blige - "Ain't No Way" #Whitney Houston - "I Will Always Love You" #Whitney Houston & Chaka Khan - "I'm Every Woman" #Whitney Houston, Chaka Khan, Faith Hill, Brandy, Mary J. Blige & LeAnn Rimes - "I'm Every Woman (reprise)"

Charts and certification

Chart (2000)	Provider	Peak position	Certification
Austrian Albums Chart	Media Control	43
French Albums Chart	SNEP/IFOP	42
Dutch Albums Chart	IFPI	41
German Top 100 Albums	Media Control	60
Swiss Top 100 Albums	Media Control	14
U.S. Billboard 200	Billboard	90	Gold (CD) / Gold (DVD)

Divas 2000

VH1 Divas 2000: A Tribute to Diana Ross, An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music is the only concert of the series not to be aired live. It was recorded on April 9, 2000 at New York's Madison Square Garden and first aired on April 11, 2000. The concert had to be recorded live as Diana Ross refused to let any other artist perform during her set and due to her costume changes there was not time for her to get changed in commercials. The concert took a mammoth 6 hours to record. No official CD, DVD or VHS was ever released of this concert as Diana Ross refused to give rights for it to be published as she thought that her performances were not her best.

According to several reports, Christina Aguilera was also in talks to appear on the show that year, as she was hot off of her Grammy win for Best New Artist at the 2000 Grammy Awards. Instead, Aguilera appeared on 'Men Strike Back' later that month. Aguilera's camp denied the rumors of a rivalry with Mariah Carey and stated that Aguilera couldn't originally appear on 'Divas' because she had been scheduled to perform on SNL.

Donna Summer was scheduled to sing a Supremes medley with Diana Ross and Mariah Carey and a VH1 Divas preview programme actually shows them rehearsing together, however on the night of the concert only Ross and Carey performed the medley.

No reason was given for Summer's non appearance in that part of the show although rumours began to emerge that Summer was unhappy that not enough rehearsal time had been given for that particular segment

Summer did perform two solo slots and was regarded by many as the star of the show

• Performers:

(in order of appearance)

• *Mariah Carey
• *Donna Summer
• *Faith Hill
• *RuPaul
• *Destiny's Child
• *Diana Ross

Show sequence

#"Love Hangover/Heartbreaker (Remix)" (Mariah Carey) #"Reflections" (Donna Summer) #"Breathe" (Faith Hill) #"Love Child" (Faith Hill) #"Bad Girls" (Donna Summer) #"Love Is The Healer" (Donna Summer) #"Can’t Take That Away (Mariah’s Theme)" (Mariah Carey) #"What's In It For Me" (Faith Hill) #"I'm Coming Out" (RuPaul) #"Say My Name" (Destiny's Child) #"Upside Down" (Destiny's Child) #"Touch Me In The Morning" (Diana Ross) #"Endless Love" (Diana Ross) #"The Best Years Of My Life" (Diana Ross) #"You Keep Me Hangin’ On" (Diana Ross and The Supremes) #"Love is like an itching in my Heart" (Diana Ross and The Supremes) #Medley: (Diana Ross and Mariah Carey) ##"Baby Love" ##"Stop! In The Name Of Love" #"Ain’t No Mountain High Enough" (Diana Ross, Faith Hill, Mariah Carey, Donna Summer, Destiny’s Child, RuPaul, and The Supremes) #"I Will Survive" (Diana Ross)

Divas 2001

VH1 Divas Live: The One and Only Aretha Franklin, An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music . This all-star tribute to Aretha Franklin at New York's Radio City Music Hall gave props to a mighty woman who has been at the centre of American music since arriving on the scene in the mid '60s.

• Performers:

(in order of appearance)

• *Aretha Franklin
• *Backstreet Boys
• *Marc Anthony
• *Celia Cruz
• *Jill Scott
• *Nelly Furtado
• *Mary J. Blige
• *Kid Rock
• *Bishop Paul Morton & Choir
• *Stevie Wonder
• Presenters included: Janet Jackson, Pamela Anderson, Rachel Dratch (as Dolly Parton), Edie Falco, Tina Fey (as Björk), Ana Gasteyer (as Christina Aguilera), Chris Kattan (as Bono), Jerry Minor (as P. Diddy), Tracy Morgan (as Little Richard), Chris Parnell (as Eminem), Maya Rudolph (as Macy Gray), Sigourney Weaver, Renée Zellweger, and Jimmy Fallon.

Show sequence

• Aretha Franklin - "I Can't Turn You Loose" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Aretha Franklin & Backstreet Boys - "Chain Of Fools" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Aretha Franklin - "Ain't No Way" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Marc Anthony & Celia Cruz – "Quimbara"
• Jill Scott - "(You Make Me Feel Like A) Natural Woman"
• Jill Scott - "A Long Walk"
• Aretha Franklin - "Think" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Nelly Furtado - "I'm Like a Bird"
• Mary J. Blige - "Day Dreaming"
• Mary J. Blige & Aretha Franklin - "Do Right Woman, Do Right Man"
• Aretha Franklin - "Nessun Dorma" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Aretha Franklin & Kid Rock - "Rock Steady" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Aretha Franklin with Bishop Paul Morton & Choir - "Precious Memories" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Aretha Franklin - "Respect" - Performance Now Available on iTunes US Store
• Aretha Franklin, Mary J. Blige, Jill Scott, Celia Cruz, Nelly Furtado, Backstreet Boys, Stevie Wonder, Marc Anthony & Aretha Franklin's Band - "Freeway Of Love"

Divas 2002

VH1 Divas: Las Vegas, An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music , 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 5th Divas concert.

• Performers:

(in order of appearance)

• *Celine Dion
• *Anastacia
• *Cher
• *Cyndi Lauper
• *Dixie Chicks
• *Shakira
• *Mary J. Blige
• *Whitney Houston
• *Stevie Nicks
• Host: Ellen DeGeneres
• Announcer: Wayne Newton

Show sequence

• Ellen DeGeneres - "Shoop" – Not included on CD or DVD
• Celine Dion & Anastacia – "You Shook Me All Night Long"
• Cher – "Believe"
• Cher – "Song for the Lonely"
• Cher & Cyndi Lauper – "If I Could Turn Back Time" – Not included on CD or DVD
• Dixie Chicks – "Long Time Gone" – Not included on CD or DVD
• Shakira – "Underneath Your Clothes"
• Mary J. Blige & Whitney Houston – "Rainy Dayz" – Not included on CD or DVD
• Mary J. Blige – "No More Drama" – Not included on CD or DVD
• Dixie Chicks – "Wide Open Spaces" – Not included on CD or DVD
• Dixie Chicks & Stevie Nicks – "Landslide"
• Anastacia – "One Day in Your Life"
• Mary J. Blige & Shakira – "Love Is A Battlefield" – Not included on CD or DVD
• Celine Dion – "I'm Alive"
• Celine Dion – "A New Day Has Come"
• Elvis Tribute Finale Medley:
• *Anastacia - "Jailhouse Rock"
• *Dixie Chicks - "That’s All Right (Mama)" - Not included on CD or DVD
• *Shakira - "Always on My Mind"
• *Mary J. Blige - "Blue Suede Shoes" - Not included on CD or DVD
• *Stevie Nicks - "Wear My Ring Around Your Neck" - Not included on CD or DVD
• *Cher - "Heartbreak Hotel"
• *Celine Dion - "Can't Help Falling in Love"
• The Divas – "You Shook Me All Night Long (reprise)" – Not included on CD or DVD

Divas 2003

VH1 Divas Duets: An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music , aired live from the MGM Grand Las Vegas on May 22, 2003.

• Performers:

(in order of appearance)

• *Beyoncé
• *Jewel
• *Celine Dion
• *Chaka Khan
• *Mary J. Blige
• *The Isley Brothers
• *Ashanti
• *Lisa Marie Presley
• *Pat Benatar
• *Whitney Houston
• *Bobby Brown
• *Tarralyn Ramsey
• *Stevie Wonder
• *Shania Twain
• Host: Queen Latifah
• Presenters: Sharon Osbourne, Aisha Tyler

Show sequence

• Queen Latifah - "When You're Good To Latifah"
• Beyoncé & Jewel - "Proud Mary"
• Celine Dion - "Have You Ever Been In Love"
• Chaka Khan - Medley: "I Feel For You"/"I'm Every Woman"
• Mary J. Blige - Medley: "Real Love"/"Love No Limit"/"Family Affair"
• The Isley Brothers & Ashanti - "Who's That Lady?"
• Beyoncé - "Dangerously In Love"
• Lisa Marie Presley - "Lights Out"
• Lisa Marie Presley & Pat Benatar - "Heartbreaker"
• Ashanti - "Rock Wit U (Aww Baby)"
• Whitney Houston & Bobby Brown - Medley: "Something In Common"/"My Love"
• Jewel - "Intuition"
• Chaka Khan & Mary J. Blige - "Sweet Thing"
• Tarralyn Ramsey - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)"
• Whitney Houston - "On My Own"
• Stevie Wonder Tribute Medley:
• *Shania Twain & Stevie Wonder - "Superstition"
• *Whitney Houston & Stevie Wonder - "I Was Made to Love Her"
• *Beyoncé & Stevie Wonder - "Signed, Sealed, Delivered I'm Yours"
• *Jewel & Stevie Wonder - "You Are The Sunshine Of My Life"
• *Mary J. Blige & Stevie Wonder - "Superwoman"
• *Ashanti & Stevie Wonder - "Do I Do"
• *Chaka Khan & Stevie Wonder - "Tell Me Something Good"
• *Queen Latifah & Stevie Wonder - "Living for the City"
• Stevie Wonder, Whitney Houston, Mary J. Blige, Beyoncé, Chaka Khan, Jewel, Ashanti & Queen Latifah - "Higher Ground"

Divas 2004

VH1 Divas: An Honors Concert for VH1's Save the Music, aired live from the MGM Grand Las Vegas on April 18 2004.

• Performers):

(in order of appearance)

• *Patti LaBelle
• *Jessica Simpson
• *Cyndi Lauper
• *Debbie Harry
• *Eve
• *Joss Stone
• *Ashanti
• *Sheila E.
• *The Pussycat Dolls (featuring Carmen Electra)
• *Tom Jones
• *Blondie
• *Gladys Knight
• Presenters: Tyra Banks, Daryl Hannah, Rachel Bilson, Omarosa, Jessica Alba, Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Nia Vardalos.

Show sequence

• Patti LaBelle, Jessica Simpson & Cyndi Lauper - "Lady Marmalade"
• Debbie Harry & Eve - "Rapture"
• Joss Stone - "Fell In Love With A Boy"
• Ashanti - "Medley: I'm Coming Out / Mo' Money Mo' Problems"
• Patti LaBelle - "New Day"
• Cyndi Lauper & Sheila E. - "Stay"
• Cyndi Lauper & Patti LaBelle - "Time After Time"
• Jessica Simpson - "Take My Breath Away"
• Jessica Simpson - "Angels"
• Patti LaBelle - "Love, Need And Want You"
• Patti LaBelle - "If Only You Knew"
• Patti LaBelle - "You'll Never Walk Alone"
• Tom Jones & The Pussycat Dolls - "Medley: Tainted Love / You Can Leave Your Hat On"
• Blondie - "Good Boys"
• Blondie & Joss Stone - "One Way Or Another"
• Gladys Knight - "The Way We Were"
• Gladys Knight & Joss Stone - "I Don't Want To Do Wrong"
• Gladys Knight & Jessica Simpson - "Midnight Train To Georgia"
• Gladys Knight, Jessica Simpson & Joss Stone - "I've Got To Use My Imagination"
• 80s Medley Finale:
• * Cyndi Lauper - "Girls Just Want To Have Fun"
• * Sheila E. - "The Glamorous Life"
• * Debbie Harry - "Call Me"
• * Ashanti - "Ain't Nobody"
• * Joss Stone - "(If You Love Someone) Set Them Free"
• * Jessica Simpson - "Higher Love"
• * The Pussycat Dolls - "Girls On Film"
• * Tom Jones - "Kiss"
• * Patti LaBelle - "New Attitude"
• Patti LaBelle, Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Joss Stone, Jessica Simpson, Sheila E., Ashanti & The Pussycat Dolls - "New Attitude (Reprise)"

Divas 2009

VH1 Divas is to return in 2009. It will be live on September 17 2009 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music (BAM) Howard Gilman Opera House in Brooklyn, New York. On July 21 2009 a press release was sent out and confirms the first four out of eight performers. ^[2] Paula Abdul will host. On August 11th 2009 in a interview the The Pulse (Sirius XM), Kelly Clarkson said she would be singing her latest single "Already Gone" and will also be singing a duet with Adele. It will also feature Leona Lewis' lead single to her album, Echo , "Happy".

• Performers:
• *Kelly Clarkson
• *Leona Lewis
• *Adele
• *Miley Cyrus
• *Jordin Sparks
• *Jennifer Hudson ^[3]

References

1. http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/news/divas-returning-to-vh1-1003964626.story
2. http://divas.vh1.com
3. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32631891/ns/entertainment-access_hollywood/