Whitefish Winter Carnival organizers have confirmed that veteran Las Vegas performer Wayne Newton will serve as the parade’s grand marshal. According to carnival board chair Paul Johannsen, Newton’s wife confirmed via email that the longtime entertainer, known around the world as Mr. Las Vegas, would lead the parade on Feb. 8.
“She said he would be honored (to be Grand Marshal),” Johannsen said.
Newton, 71, began performing as a child in the 1950s and appeared on the Grand Ole Opry. That eventually led to him to Las Vegas, where a hotel booked him to sing while he was still in high school. Since then, he has hosted thousands of shows on The Strip. He has also appeared in numerous movies and television shows.
“He’s had a connection to the Flathead Valley for a long time and through a friend of his wife we were able to get a hold of him,” Johannsen said.
According to a 2011 Las Vegas Sun article, Newton owns a second home on or near Flathead Lake.
In the days and weeks prior to last year’s Whitefish Winter Carnival, rumors were rampant that actor Johnny Depp would be the parade’s Grand Marshall but that turned out to be untrue. Johannsen said that is not the case with Newton.
“This is real,” he said. “We’ve extended an invitation to him to all of the events.”