Jamie Wendt
NEED TO KNOW
Blake Shelton kicked off the latest round of his Las Vegas residency on Thursday night
While the new rendition of the 90-minute show was similar to last year's version, the 2026 show includes new material
The country star encouraged fans to "take the night off" from dry January to help him celebrate his latest No. 1 hit
After a brief but highly successful run in Las Vegas last year,Blake Sheltonhas brought his residency show back to Sin City.On Thursday, Jan. 15, the country superstarreprised his Vegas show at Caesars Palace's Colosseum, and he wasted no time in raising the crowd's enthusiasm, coming on stage to "Pour Me Drink," his song withPost Malone, which netted the duo aCMA Awardfor Musical Event of the Year.After raising a dark cup to the crowd, seemingly a full cocktail, Shelton jokingly aired out his opinions on Dry January."I hope you guys aren't doing that no drink January or whatever the hell that s--- is, man. It's stupid. This is country music, okay?" he told the rowdy crowd. "Take the night off if you are."Last year, Shelton, 49,performed six shows in Vegas. This run is longer, with dates all through January.
Jamie Wendt
While the new rendition of the 90-minute show was similar to last year's version, the 2026 show includes new material, like "Stay Country or Die Tryin'," his newest No. 1 single, which topped the charts earlier in the week."This is the only time during this residency that I'll be able to say this, but this week, today, we are celebrating my 31st No. 1 song that we just had this year," he said before performing his newest chart topper. "It's right now. It's freaking me out. That's why I'm saying you guys aren't doing the no-drink January thing, because I'm celebrating. This is my one chance to celebrate this thing."
Jamie Wendt
Although he performed new material, including 2024's "Texas," the singer dug into his catalog, even performing songs from his early career, such as "Austin," "She Wouldn't Be Gone" and "Some Beach."Using the wall-to-wall screen behind him, the show had differing energies, largely tied to the visuals behind Shelton. Images of rivers flowing were shown during portions of "God's Country," prison cells were seen in "Ol' Red" and illuminated signs beamed during "Neon Light." A single spotlight shone on him for a scaled-back version of 2013's "Sure Be Cool If You Did."In typical Shelton form, he humorously bantered with the crowd often while unleashing fan favorites "Hillbilly Bone" and "Boys Round Here."In a more sentimental moment, he duetted "Nobody But You" with his wife,Gwen Stefani, who harmonized with him in a prerecorded video on the oversized screen behind him.
Jamie Wendt
For Shelton, the showroom is like home."This is like my big-ass living room in here. If there's a song y'all want me to do, shout it out or write it down or something," he said. "I'm literally here to play you guys what you want to hear."While fans shouted out song titles, the energy was palpable, even for a weekday."It's never Thursdays in Las Vegas, only Saturdays," Shelton quipped with a grin.Shelton's remaining dates for the residency run are Jan. 18, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30 and 31.
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