Country music superstar Blake Shelton has long been known for his down-to-earth charm, soulful ballads, and electrifying live performances. But in 2025, Shelton took his reputation to a new level with what fans and critics are calling his “craziest tour ever.” The Friends & Heroes Tour 2025, which included a headline performance at the Gulf Coast Jam in Panama City Beach, Florida, drew a staggering 65,000 fans over its Memorial Day weekend run from May 29 to June 1. With Shelton sporting a throwback cowboy mullet, a beachside setting, and a lineup of country music legends, the tour stop became a spectacle of music, nostalgia, and wild energy that left an indelible mark on all who attended. This story, gathered from online sources and social media buzz, dives into the unforgettable moments that defined this historic event.
A Beachside Extravaganza
The Gulf Coast Jam, presented by Jim Beam, has been a staple of country music festivals since its inception, but the 2025 edition set a new benchmark. Held from May 29 to June 1 in Panama City Beach, the festival featured headliners Sam Hunt, Lainey Wilson, Tyler Childers, and Blake Shelton, with Shelton closing out the event on the final night. According to festival organizers, the event drew a record-breaking 65,000 fans across its four days, a testament to the enduring appeal of country music and the star power of its headliners. Shelton’s performance on June 1 capped the weekend with an electrifying set that blended his signature hits with a playful nod to his early career style.
Panama City Beach provided the perfect backdrop for what would become a legendary night. The festival stage, set against the Gulf of Mexico, was surrounded by white sand beaches and the sound of crashing waves, creating a unique atmosphere that blended the laid-back vibe of a beach party with the high energy of a country music concert. Fans, many dressed in cowboy hats and boots despite the coastal setting, packed the beach, their enthusiasm undeterred by the humid Florida heat. “It was like a country music paradise,” one attendee shared on X. “Blake on the beach with 65,000 of us singing along—it was pure magic.”
Shelton’s arrival on stage was a moment of pure spectacle. Sporting a cowboy hat and a mullet reminiscent of his early days in the industry—a look he famously revisited in his 2022 “No Body” music video—he strode out with a grin, tipping his hat to the roaring crowd. The mullet, a nod to his ‘90s country roots, became a talking point across social media, with fans dubbing it the “cowboy mullet” and celebrating Shelton’s playful embrace of nostalgia. “Blake Shelton rocking that mullet on the beach was everything,” another fan posted. “It’s like he brought the ‘90s to 2025, and we were all here for it.”
A Setlist That Spanned Decades
Shelton’s performance was a masterclass in blending nostalgia with contemporary hits, showcasing the breadth of his discography that has made him a country music icon. The Friends & Heroes Tour 2025, which began earlier in the year with stops in cities like Boston and Greenville, featured genre legends Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Trace Adkins, along with rising star Emily Ann Roberts. But at Gulf Coast Jam, Shelton took center stage, delivering a setlist that had the crowd on their feet from start to finish.
He kicked off the night with “God’s Country,” a gritty anthem that set the tone for the evening with its pounding rhythm and Shelton’s powerful vocals. The song, which has amassed over 180 million views on YouTube since its 2019 release, resonated deeply with the audience, many of whom waved American flags and sang along to every word. Shelton followed with classics like “Ol’ Red” and “Austin,” the latter being his debut single from 2001 that spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The crowd’s energy surged as Shelton transitioned into more upbeat tracks like “Boys ‘Round Here,” a playful anthem that had fans dancing in the sand.
One of the night’s highlights was a duet with Emily Ann Roberts, a former contestant on The Voice, where Shelton served as a coach for 23 seasons. The pair performed “Happy Anywhere,” a touching duet originally recorded with Shelton’s wife, Gwen Stefani, for his 2021 album Body Language. The performance was a crowd favorite, with Roberts’ soaring vocals complementing Shelton’s heartfelt delivery. “Since I met you, I swear I could be happy anywhere,” they sang, their voices carrying over the beach as fans swayed with their arms around each other, the sunset painting the sky in hues of orange and pink.
Shelton also paid homage to his Oklahoma roots, a recurring theme in his music and performances. “It’s really about a state of mind,” he once said of “God’s Country” in a 2019 interview, describing his connection to his home state. At Gulf Coast Jam, he shared stories of growing up in Ada, Oklahoma, joking about his early days with a mullet and a dream. “I never thought I’d be singing to 65,000 of y’all on a beach,” he told the crowd, his signature humor shining through. “But I guess that’s what happens when you stick around long enough!”
The Friends & Heroes Experience
The Friends & Heroes Tour concept, which Shelton has championed for years, is designed to celebrate the legends of country music while introducing fans to new talent. At Gulf Coast Jam, this format took on a festival flair, with Shelton joined by Trace Adkins, whose deep baritone and hits like “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk” had the crowd roaring, and Deana Carter, whose rendition of “Strawberry Wine” brought a wave of nostalgia. Craig Morgan, a fellow Oklahoman and Army veteran, delivered a moving performance of “The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost,” a song about the loss of his son, which left many in the audience in tears.
Emily Ann Roberts, the “very special guest” of the tour, proved to be a standout, her youthful energy and powerful voice winning over the crowd. Shelton, who has a history of mentoring young artists through The Voice, introduced her with pride, saying, “Y’all are gonna love this girl—she’s the future of country music.” Roberts’ performance of her original song “Whole Lotta Little” had fans singing along, a sign of her growing popularity.
Shelton has often spoken about the joy of sharing the stage with his heroes. “I get spoiled every night seeing these icons come out and do four or five of the biggest hits of their storied careers,” he told People magazine in September 2024, when announcing the 2025 tour. At Gulf Coast Jam, that sentiment was palpable, as he frequently stepped back to let his friends shine, joining in on harmonies and sharing laughs between songs. The collaborative spirit of the night added to its chaotic, celebratory energy, making it a tour stop unlike any other.
A Humanitarian Heart on Display
Shelton’s connection with his fans goes beyond music—it’s rooted in his genuine, down-to-earth personality and his commitment to giving back. A noted humanitarian, he has raised millions for causes like children’s hospitals, disaster relief, and food banks over the years. Earlier in 2025, he wrapped his Back to the Honky Tonk Tour with a special show in Tulsa, titled Blake Shelton & Friends: Oklahoma Is All For The Hall, which raised over $750,000 for the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. At Gulf Coast Jam, he continued this tradition, partnering with the festival to donate a portion of ticket sales to local charities supporting hurricane relief efforts in the Florida Panhandle, an area still recovering from past storms.
During his set, Shelton took a moment to acknowledge the resilience of the Panama City Beach community. “Y’all have been through a lot, but you keep coming back stronger,” he said, earning a thunderous cheer from the crowd. His words, coupled with his charitable efforts, reinforced his reputation as a “proud ambassador” of country music, a title he’s earned through both his artistry and his generosity.
The Craziest Tour Ever
What made this tour stop the “craziest ever” wasn’t just the record-breaking crowd or the beachside setting—it was the sheer energy and unpredictability of the night. Shelton, known for his ability to connect with audiences, created intimate moments amid the chaos, sharing stories, cracking jokes, and even tossing guitar picks into the crowd. At one point, he invited a couple from the front row to join him on stage, a spontaneous act reminiscent of his 2015 Saskatoon concert where he similarly engaged with fans, as noted in a Songkick review. The couple, visibly starstruck, danced with Shelton during “Honey Bee,” a moment that quickly went viral on TikTok.
The cowboy mullet, a visual throwback to Shelton’s early days, added a layer of playful nostalgia that fans couldn’t get enough of. Social media posts from the event show fans sporting their own mullets and cowboy hats in homage, with one X user writing, “Blake’s mullet on the beach with 65,000 of us—it’s the country music moment we didn’t know we needed.” The combination of Shelton’s retro look, the festival’s beach setting, and the massive crowd created a surreal, almost cinematic experience that felt both timeless and utterly unique.
A Night to Remember
As the night drew to a close, Shelton ended with “Hell Right,” a high-energy track that had the entire beach singing and dancing under the stars. Fireworks lit up the sky above the Gulf, a fitting finale to a night that embodied the wild, joyful spirit of country music. Fans left the beach with memories of a lifetime, their voices hoarse from singing, their hearts full from the shared experience.
Blake Shelton’s performance at Gulf Coast Jam 2025 was more than just a concert—it was a celebration of country music’s past, present, and future, set against the backdrop of a sun-soaked beach with 65,000 fans united in song. The cowboy mullet, the all-star lineup, and Shelton’s infectious energy made it a tour stop for the history books, one that fans will be talking about for years to come. As Shelton continues his Friends & Heroes Tour through 2025, with upcoming stops at events like the 60th ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas, on May 8, he’s proving that after more than two decades in the industry, he’s still at the top of his game, delivering the kind of crazy, unforgettable moments that define a true country music legend.
