Cookie Watkins delivers a high-energy tribute to Tina Turner at The Railhead, bringing decades of musical experience to the intimate venue. Her connection to music runs deep—Duke Ellington himself brought her onstage at fourteen and threw her a coming-out party at the Rainbow Room when she turned eighteen, even mentioning her in his book "Music Is My Mistress." Known in underground circles as "Iron Throat," Cookie channels the raw power and stage presence that made Tina Turner a legend.
The show features Turner's iconic hits, from the soulful "Higher" to the gritty "Better Be Good to Me" and the chart-topping "What's Love Got To Do With It?" The performance builds toward the closing number everyone expects—"Proud Mary"—delivered with the kind of energy and attitude that defined Tina's legendary career. Cookie's background in R&B, influenced by powerhouses like Aretha Franklin and Patti LaBelle, gives her the vocal strength to tackle Turner's demanding catalog.
The Railhead's throwback atmosphere and close quarters make this tribute show feel more like a concert than a Vegas production, with doors opening an hour before showtime. This is a 21+ show with general admission seating, creating a more casual, club-like vibe than the typical Vegas tribute experience.