Blake Shelton Reflects on His Touring Journey and How Modern Stadium Shows Are Shaping the Industry
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“But I see the new generation, like Luke Combs and Zach Bryan, selling out stadiums…”
Blake Shelton has performed on some of country music’s largest stages, from a career-defining night at Chicago’s Wrigley Field to headlining his own Las Vegas residency. Yet, he acknowledges that touring looks very different today compared to when he first started.
On The Michael Waddell Podcast, Shelton reflected on his career and admitted he never envisioned a time when country artists could jump from a breakout album to multiple sold-out stadium shows.
“Looking back, the peak of my touring career was probably when I had the album Based on a True Story with hits like ‘Boys ‘Round Here,’” he said. “We were really hitting big records then, and we even sold out Wrigley Field one night. That was amazing. But I’ve always been about being a strong arena act, and not everyone gets to do that — it’s incredible.”
The Oklahoma native noted that today’s music consumption has transformed the touring landscape, giving artists new ways to gain recognition beyond traditional radio play.
“I see these new artists, like Luke Combs and Zach Bryan, selling out stadiums for multiple nights, and I’m just blown away,” Shelton admitted. “I didn’t even know that was possible for country artists back then.”
He acknowledged that Garth Brooks had achieved similar feats, but it took him a longer climb. “Now, artists can release one album and suddenly be playing stadiums. Streaming has changed everything. Fans learn every song on the album and sing along at shows. It’s a different world.”
Looking back, Shelton has no regrets about his career. He fondly recalled his early days performing in the club scene, where he often broke even financially but had an unforgettable time.
“I was fortunate to come up when the club scene was thriving,” he said. “Now, it’s mostly gone except for a few iconic venues like Billy Bob’s or the Grizzly Rose. Back then, there were plenty of country dance clubs where we could get booked and play shows, and it was a lot of fun.”