Blake Shelton Calls Dry January ‘Stupid’ as He Kicks Off Raucous Return to Las Vegas

Blake Shelton is officially back in Las Vegas — and he’s wasting no time making his opinions loud and clear.

The 49-year-old country superstar returned to the stage Thursday, Jan. 15, reviving his Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace after a wildly successful run last year. And within minutes of stepping onstage, Shelton had the crowd fired up — musically and otherwise.

He opened the night with “Pour Me Drink,” his hit collaboration with Post Malone that earned the pair a CMA Award for Musical Event of the Year. Raising a dark-colored cup that appeared to be a full cocktail, Shelton couldn’t resist taking aim at the Dry January trend.

“I hope you guys aren’t doing that no-drink January or whatever the hell that is,” he told the rowdy crowd. “It’s stupid. This is country music, okay? Take the night off if you are.”

The audience erupted in cheers.

Last year, Shelton played six Vegas shows, but this residency run stretches throughout January. While the 90-minute show largely mirrors last year’s format, the 2026 edition includes fresh material — most notably “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” his latest single, which climbed to No. 1 on the charts earlier this week.

“This is the only time during this residency that I’ll be able to say this,” Shelton said ahead of the performance. “This week — today — we’re celebrating my 31st No. 1 song. It’s happening 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, and this is my one chance.”

Alongside newer tracks like 2024’s “Texas,” Shelton leaned heavily into his back catalog, delighting longtime fans with early-career favorites including “Austin,” “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” and “Some Beach.”

The massive wall-to-wall screen behind him helped shape the show’s shifting energy. Flowing rivers accompanied “God’s Country,” prison imagery appeared during “Ol’ Red,” glowing signs lit up “Neon Light,” and a single spotlight stripped things back for a pared-down performance of 2013’s “Sure Be Cool If You Did.”

True to form, Shelton frequently joked with the audience, keeping the mood light before unleashing fan favorites “Hillbilly Bone” and “Boys Round Here.”

One of the night’s most heartfelt moments came when Shelton performed “Nobody But You” as a duet with his wife, Gwen Stefani, who appeared harmonizing with him in a prerecorded video on the oversized screen.

For Shelton, the Vegas showroom feels like home.

“This is like my big-ass living room,” he told fans. “If there’s a song you want me to do, shout it out or write it down or something. I’m literally here to play what you want to hear.”

Even on a Thursday night, the energy was unmistakable.

“There’s never Thursdays in Las Vegas,” Shelton joked with a grin. “Only Saturdays.”

Shelton’s remaining residency dates are Jan. 18, 21, 23, 24, 28, 30 and 31.