Four Nashville Hit Makers, One Rising Talent, and a Surprise Guest Thrill 10K Plus Fans at North Charleston Coliseum

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer 

Usually when you see a star-studded line-up that includes Blake Shelton, Craig Morgan, Trace Adkins, and Deana Carter you're probably thinking it's an all day country music festival. However, this foursome of current and former headlining artists are sharing the stage nightly on the 'Friends & Heroes Tour', a wild & crazy concert concept designed by no other than master showman Blake Shelton. The tour made a pitstop at the North Charleston Coliseum on Friday March 14th.

The evening began with the very bubbly 26 year old Emily Ann Roberts, a rising star in Nashville who was runner-up on the The Voice in 2016, not surprisingly under then coach and still mentor Blake Shelton. Giving 30 minutes to set the mood, Roberts wowed the near sell out crowd during her seven song set sending up a spirited rendition of Dolly Parton's '9 to 5', throwing in her latest single 'Easy Does It', and ending with 'Whole Lotta Little' off her recent album 'Can't Hide Country'. Judging from crowd reaction, Roberts is one to watch out for in 2025.

The opening act aside it was time for the main attraction. After the lights dimmed the big screen lit up with the backside of a man (presumably Blake) sitting at the wheel of an old pickup truck. In the video the man is fiddling with the AM/FM dial on the radio, stopping occasionally to listen to classic country songs as well as 'Sweet Home Alabama'. The clever montage provided an epic introduction for Mr. Shelton and got concert goers fired up.

With Shelton presiding as emcee for the evening as well as the marquee performer, the 'Friends & Heroes Tour' stretched over three hours offering up more than 30 hit songs. This one of kind concert experience had Shelton offering up his greatest hits in between short interludes from Morgan, Carter, and Adkins, with the trio each providing hits from their own arsenal of songs.

Blake kicked off the night's festivities announcing to the crowd 'you've never been to a concert like this before, so I suggest you grab a couple of beers right now, because you're not going to want to miss one moment of this show'. That said, folks settled in for an epic three hour spectacular. 

First up, Shelton took center stage beginning with a honky-tonk version of Post Malone's 'Pour Me a Drink', which appeared to get concert goers pumped up. He closed his four song mini-set with 'Neon Light' a 2014 chart topper off his eighth studio album 'Bringing Back the Sunshine'.

Morgan took the musical baton and ran with it, having way to much fun with what's become a cowboy and cowgirl anthem, as he had the audience singing along to 'Redneck Yacht Club'. 'That's What I Love About Sunday', Morgan's lone number one ballad from 2005 struck a chord with the audience, as did the twangy 'International Harvester', proving he was in rare form and ready to entertain, including the farmers in the audience.

With 29 chart topping singles to his credit Shelton kicked off his second five song set with 'A Guy With a Girl' a sexy and flirty upbeat song that topped the charts back in 2016. More number ones followed with 'Nobody But You' a power pop country ballad Shelton recorded with his superstar wife Gwen Stefani.

While past concert goers enjoyed a big screen recorded track with her singing along, the Charleston crowd were elated when Blake's better half joined in on stage. She hung around for 'Happy Anywhere', an upbeat country duet the couple released in 2020. Thousands of cellphones captured every second of Stefani's stage time before she exited. It's not surprising that Stefani would want to join Shelton in Charleston, with the Holy City being the top tourist attraction in the country.

Shelton Followed with 'All About Tonight'. The southern rock influenced party song kept the crowd energized, with 'Honey Bee' playing to romantics in the audience. Not nearly a third of the way through the show, and Shelton was at the top of his game with the crowd loving every minute of it, proving this was more than just a concert, rather it was an entertainment experience.

With Stefani injecting a little girl power into the proceedings, the stage was set for Deana Carter. The 1990's country songstress did not disappoint offering up three of her biggest hits including 'We Danced Anyway', 'How Do I Get There', and her signature song 'Strawberry Wine' which brought a thousands of cellphones out for 'had to be there' recordings. Carter's voice is still sweet and warm, exuding wisps of a true southern belle. She's a country girl enjoying her God given talent. 

In synchronized fashion Shelton returned with yet another five song set that included three number ones. He made light of the fact that Carter's thunderous applause and cellphone salute on 'Strawberry Wine' was a bit troubling, because he'd been on stage three times and hadn't received similar fanfare. That of course brought out thousands of flickering lights. Jokingly however Shelton said 'no, no, no, I haven't earned it'.

Not to up-staged and proving he's been riding high on the charts for a quarter century, Shelton tore into 'Some Beach'. The song with its humorous tongue & cheek 'son of a bitch' frustrations yearning for a more chilled time on the beach was well received by fans, especially in a country music loving coastal community such as Charleston SC.

Before surrendering the spotlight Shelton paid double homage to the Lone Star state, belting out in order 'Austin' his first chart topping single from 2001. He said now that I've played you my first number one hit from from way back in 2001, let me come full circle and play my recent single 'Texas', a top five hit from just a few months back.

Shelton's short term exit paved the way for Trace Adkins. The Louisiana native known for his distinctive bass-baritone voice as well as acting career wasted no time joining the party, sending up 'Honky Tonk Badonkadonk', his rowdy roadhouse line dancing number from 2005. The widely popular crossover hit had at least have the crowd shaking what they got.

Switching gears Adkins ripped right into 'You're Gonna Miss This', his heart rendering ballad from 2008. Adkins had everyone in the crowd singing in unison, and easily kept the complement of females enthralled with with his 2006 chart topper 'Ladies Love Country Boys'. 

Allowing they've been fishing buddies for decades Blake re-emerged, joining Trace on 'Hell Right' and 'Hillbilly Bone', two novelty songs by Shelton featuring guest vocals by Adkins that easily play to the men in the audience, and I feel certain the ladies enjoyed the two sharing the limelight side by side.

Perhaps the most intimate part of the show takes place during the acoustic set, with all four performers joining together on a smaller stage in the center of the coliseum. If the 'Friends & Heroes Tour' was a treasure chest full of precious gems, than the acoustic portion is a rare diamond in the rough. With the artists assembled together similar to a songwriters session, Blake stated the show needed to have an element of competition between them. Adding audience response and cellphone lights would declare the overall winner.

The impromptu setting provided as much comedy and back stories as it did epic songs. However, when Adkins' 'Every Light in the House' outpaced Shelton's 'Who Are You When I'm Not Looking', the host quickly backtracked, adding music is about art and shouldn't be competitive. Judging by the crowds response to Morgan's 'Almost Home' and Carter's 'You and Tequila' (a song she wrote for Kenny Chesney), it's clear Shelton might not have won come out on top from the competition.

Perhaps the funniest part of the acoustic set was Adkins teasing his long time friend on why he was kicked off 'The Voice'. Shelton replied the show was downsizing, with Adkins remarking they still have four coaches on the reality singing show. That allowed Shelton the ultimate zinger, saying 'it takes four of them to make up for one of me'.

As his three travelling companions exited the stage Shelton paid tribute to some of his favorite all time country songs, offering up well received covers of George Strait's 'All My Ex's Live in Texas' followed by a 'Mountain Music' a familiar sing-along by Alabama.

Before thanking the Charleston audience for welcoming him and his friends to town and joining in their country music lovefest, Shelton left concert goers with two additional chart topping singles deeply rooted in faith and family. 'God's Country' and 'God Gave Me You' prove Shelton knows how to pick a song, and better yet make every songwriters song his own.

If you were judging Shelton's performance throughout the night, combined with his comedy and overall audience rapport, than 10K plus fans would have easily turned their chairs around if this had a been an episode of The Voice.

There are any number of reasons why Shelton's current tour is appropriately titled 'Friends & Heroes Tour'. The four headliners all came up during the late 1990's and early 2000's and have toured together on numerous occasions forging lasting friendships. Matter of fact when Shelton was a newcomer he opened for Carter. As for Blake, Craig, and Trace, they all share a love of the outdoors, often fishing and hunting together.

Taking it a step further, all of the performers consider their fans, the ones who buy their records, listen to country music radio, follow them on social media, and buy tickets to their shows, as friends. As to the heroes portion of the tour's title, aside from Morgan who served in the military and remains in active reserve, the others have performed for our troops, with Adkins a strong supporter of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Furthermore collectively the country music superstars endorse first responders, music education, children's charities, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, woman's resources, cancer research, and wildlife foundations. While as performers they might be heroes to millions, the work they do off the stage makes them true heroes to the organizations they lend their support to.

The 'Friends & Heroes Tour' is more like a travelling variety show with iconic artists revolving on and off the stage, passing the microphone to one another. The show is full of chart topping hits, friendly banter, and a healthy dose of humor. The show might be playing large arenas, but with an elongated stage, large video screen backdrop, two additional video screens, and lots of neon imagery, it has the feel of down home honkytonk.

While the show comes to a halt by the end of March, and there's no guarantee Stefani will make future appearances, the 'Friends & Heroes Tour' delivers more than a one-two punch. Rather, the tour showcases the greatest hits of four larger than life beloved Nashville icons.

For more on this tour and everywhere the incomparable Blake Shelton will be in 2025 visit his website at https://www.blakeshelton.com/tour