Blake Shelton took some time off and disappeared on his Oklahoma farm for a couple of years to catch his breath following more than a decade on The Voice. But now he’s back – and he’s everywhere.
Shelton recently released his new song “Texas,” which is already a Top 10 hit. He just launched his first Las Vegas residency, and his 2025 Friends & Heroes Tour will launch later this month in Kentucky. But first, he’s having fun in Sin City. Shelton’s residency runs through February 15 at Caesars Palace.
“This is a big deal for me,” Shelton said of first residency on opening night. “I’ve been coming to Las Vegas for a long time, so I know what my job is here tonight. We’re here to make memories.”
Fans who score a ticket can expect more than a 20-song set that will include his biggest hits, “Texas,” “Sangria,” “Honey Bee,” “Ol’ Red,” “God’s Country,” “Boys’ Round Here,” and his recent 29th No. 1 hit with Post Malone, “Pour Me a Drink.”
On opening night, he even threw in a cover of Alabama’s “Mountain Music,” which he sang to honor Alabama singer Randy Owen at BMI in November.
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Blake Shelton’s Residency is a Neon Circus
While Shelton promised he wouldn’t swing from the rafters like Carrie Underwood did in her Las Vegas residency, neon surrounds him, including a replica of his Ole Red sign from his Las Vegas bar.
If Shelton will continue the neon theme on his 2025 tour remains to be seen. What we do know is he’s taking some of his favorite artists on the road with him. Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, Trace Adkins, and very special guest and Voice alum Emily Ann Roberts will all share Shelton’s stage on the trek.
The singer loves his Friends & Heroes concept so much that it depresses him when he can’t tour that way. Shelton remembers his manager approaching him on his last tour and that he already wanted to talk about the next. Shelton didn’t.
“I said, ‘Well, man, I got to be honest,’” Shelton said. “I got spoiled on the Friends & Heroes thing because, as a fan, I can’t think of a cooler concert to go to than you’re buying a ticket and you’re getting to see four or five artists in one night. Then when the main show starts, you’re not only getting to see four artists, but you’re getting to see them do biggest hits.”
Blake Shelton is “Spoiled” By Friends & Heroes Concept
Shelton knows it’s a good opportunity for his heroes to get in front of his 10,000-plus arena crowd and wow them. For Shelton as a fan, he’s looking forward to watching his buddy Adkins take the audience through “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Ladies Love Country Boys.”
Shelton and Adkins’ friendship dates back to before their 2009 hit “Hillbilly Bone.” His relationship with Morgan possibly goes back further.
“Craig and I have been friends since, literally, since 2001 when I first came onto the scene,” Shelton said. “We started running into each other at music industry events and realized instantly that we were going to be buddies from then on. We just have way too much in common.”
Shelton feels like Carter’s “Strawberry Wine” is the defining country song of a generation. He asked his manager if he thought Carter would join the tour.
“And he goes, ‘Man, I don’t know. I have no idea,’” Shelton said. “And so he started making some calls. We were able to get Deana Carter, which blows my mind.”
Deana Carter is Super Happy
Shelton is excited just thinking about it.
“I know that I’m personally going to have fun,” he said. “I’ve met Deana a few times over the years, and she’s always got a smile on her face. She’s another one of those people who’s just super happy every time I’ve been around her. This all should be a lot of fun.”
Tickets for Shelton’s residency and his Friends & Heroes Tour 2025 are on sale HERE.
Photo by Jamie Wendt
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