When LeAnn Rimes stepped onto the stage at Brooklyn Bowl Las Vegas to close out the 2026 Sin City Classic Sports Festival, it felt less like a headlining concert and more like a shared moment years in the making.
The Grammy-winning singer, longtime LGBTQ+ advocate and ally performed Jan. 18 as part of the world’s largest LGBTQ+ sporting event, a weekend that blends athletic competition with celebration, nightlife and community. Hosted annually by the Greater Los Angeles Softball Association, the Sin City Classic runs over Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend and draws thousands of athletes and allies from around the globe.
For Rimes, being part of that atmosphere mattered as much as the performance itself.
“Coming to Vegas for something like Sin City Classic makes the city feel even more special,” she told Gayety ahead of the show. “There’s so much joy, pride, and community in the air. I love the energy here, it’s electric.”
While Las Vegas is known for its indulgences, Rimes said weekends like this shift her focus.
“When I’m in town, I definitely try to recharge at the spa,” she said. “But honestly, nights like tonight are why I love Vegas. Being surrounded by so many people celebrating who they are, unapologetically, that’s the real magic.”
A Weekend Rooted in Chosen Family
That sense of magic was visible throughout the Sin City Classic weekend. From the moment athletes arrived at the Flamingo Las Vegas for registration, the festival felt like a reunion. Sports unfolded across the city, with competitors moving between kickball fields, volleyball courts and cheerleading mats, all fueled by encouragement and shared purpose.
As the nights rolled in, social events kept the momentum going, from packed dance floors to drag performances, culminating in Rimes’ concert and the official closing party.
Those experiences mirrored what Rimes says has defined her relationship with LGBTQ+ fans for decades.
“It’s meant everything to me,” she said of their support. “The LGBTQ community has supported me with so much love, honesty, and strength throughout my life and career.”
She sees events like Sin City Classic as more than entertainment.
“It’s not just about music,” Rimes said. “It’s about chosen family, visibility, and showing up for one another. I’ve grown alongside my LGBTQ fans, and I’ve learned so much from their courage and authenticity.”
A Song That Still Unites the Room
That connection was undeniable when Rimes launched into “Can’t Fight the Moonlight,” a song that remains a staple of queer dance floors and communal singalongs more than two decades after its release.
“It never gets old,” she said. “That song has a life of its own now. It belongs to the fans as much as it belongs to me.”
As voices filled Brooklyn Bowl, the moment felt collective, athletes, spectators and performers sharing the same release after days of competition and connection.
“Every time I sing it, I’m reminded of different chapters of my life and theirs,” Rimes said. “The reaction is pure joy, and there’s something really beautiful about standing in that moment together, all these years later.”
A Fitting Finale
The performance capped a festival that has grown from a single softball tournament in 2008 into a multi-sport, multi-day gathering spanning 24 sports and welcoming roughly 10,000 participants. Along the way, Sin City Classic has become a rare space where queer people can compete openly, celebrate loudly and gather without explanation.
Rimes’ presence underscored that mission.
“Music connects us across time,” she said. “That’s the greatest gift.”
As the final notes faded and the crowd lingered, the feeling was clear: this wasn’t just a concert. It was a thank-you, a celebration and a reminder that queer joy, especially when shared, is something worth fighting for.
