Blake Shelton’s Friends & Heroes Tour Delivers a One-of-a-Kind Show in Greenville, South Carolina
“You’ve never been to a concert like we’re going to see here tonight,” Shelton promised.
Blake Shelton; Photo by Jamie Wendt
Blake Shelton brought his Friends & Heroes Tour to Bon Secours Wellness Arena in Greenville, South Carolina, on Thursday evening, and it was clear from the start it would be a night to remember.
“Let me tell you something, everybody… You’ve never been to a concert like we’re going to see here tonight,” Shelton teased.
The country superstar followed through on that promise, delivering a truly one-of-a-kind concert that incorporated his biggest hits as well as those from his “Friends & Heroes,” Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Trace Adkins.
This show offered a unique format that kept the audience on their toes throughout the entire evening. Shelton would take the stage for a few songs, then step aside to let one of his “genre heroes” perform, before returning to keep the momentum going. It gave the show an all-star jam session vibe rather than a typical concert, making it feel fresh and exciting.
The show kicked off with rising star Emily Ann Roberts, who captivated the crowd with a heartfelt set of originals, including the tender love ballad “Easy Does It,” the uplifting “The Building,” and the bluegrass-infused “Whole Lotta Little.” She’s got the talent, charm, and star quality to make it big — it’s only a matter of time before her moment arrives.
Fans got their first glimpse of Shelton when he hit the stage singing his latest chart-topping hit, “Pour Me A Drink,” sans Post Malone, setting the tone for the night ahead.
“Is this Thursday,” the Oklahoma native asked the crowd. “There’s no Thursdays in country music. This is Friday!”
The superstar went on to encourage fans to let loose and enjoy the night ahead, admitting, “it’s Thursday and I’m in a really weird mood.”
He went on to sing hits like “I’ll Name The Dogs,” “All About Tonight” and “Neon Light” before welcoming Craig Morgan to the stage.
Morgan, joined by Shelton’s band, then delivered performances of “Redneck Yacht Club,” “That’s What I Love About Sunday” and “International Harvester” before Shelton returned with a major surprise.
After singing “A Guy With A Girl,” fans were shocked when Shelton welcomed his wife, Gwen Stefani, to the stage for two of their duets, “Nobody But You” and “Happy Anywhere.” The smile on his face said it all as he proudly shouted, “Gwen Stefani, every body!” Stefani sweetly blew kisses and smiled as the packed house welcomed her with a roar of applause.
Deana Carter was up next, taking fans back to her iconic 1995 debut album with performances of “We Danced Anyway,” “How Do I Get There,” and her signature hit, “Strawberry Wine.” The audience welcomed her with open arms, lighting up the arena with their cell phone lights and singing along to every word.
In the next part of the show, Shelton revisited some of his earliest hits, including the playful “Some Beach,” the fan-favorite “Ol’ Red,” and his career-launching debut single, “Austin.”
After performing his oldest song, Shelton told the crowd it was only fitting to follow up with his newest track. He then launched into “Texas,” his latest chart-climbing hit. For a relatively new release, the audience’s response to the song was incredible. Look for this one to be a soon-to-be No.1.
The next artist to take the stage was Trace Adkins, who entered the room singing “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” prompting the entire arena to sway along with the addictive beat. After performances of “You’re Gonna Miss This” and “Ladies Love Country Boys,” Adkins teamed up with Shelton for back-to-back renditions of their hit duets, “Hell Right” and “Hillbilly Bone.” Their hilarious banter added an extra layer of fun to the performance, making it a highlight that the fans absolutely loved.
Things took a turn when Shelton invited Adkins, Morgan, and Carter to join him for an acoustic segment, shining a spotlight on the heart of Nashville—songwriting. Each artist took their turn performing a song they had written, either for themselves or for others, creating a special, intimate moment during the show.
In true Blake Shelton fashion, he made this into a hilarious competition which he dubbed “the who has the best song left to play competition of the Friends & Heroes tour 2025.”
Shelton picked the energy back up with covers of George Strait and Alabama before closing out the show with fan favorites “God’s Country,” “Boys ‘Round Here” and an encore of “God Gave Me You.”
Despite being a household name with sold-out arenas and TV shows under his belt, Shelton never forgets his roots. Throughout the show, he shared stories from the early days of his career, reflecting on the times he performed in Greenville, reminding fans of the journey that brought him to where he is now.
“I’ve been coming here for a long time. I love Greenville. I played the damn Blind Horse [Saloon] like twice a year,” he recalled.
Blake Shelton’s Friends & Heroes Tour is one of the most unique concert experiences out there right now. Even after 23 years in the industry, Shelton continues to deliver a stellar performance, combining his musical talents with his signature humor. His ability to connect with fans is unmatched, and the show in Greenville was a perfect example of that.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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