ABC RadioThe big event Wednesday night in Nashville was the 2018 CMT Music Awards, but Blake Shelton rivaled the star power of the impressive show with his after-party celebrating the opening of the Music City location of his Ole Red bar and restaurant.
Chris Janson, Dan + Shay, Darius Rucker, Jon Pardi, Devin Dawson, Little Big Town, Trace Adkins, Hunter Hayes, Kelly Clarkson, RaeLynn, Michael Ray, and Lauren Alaina all joined Blake for a song or two onstage at his new honky tonk.
The theme of the night was classic country covers, with Blake delivering Hal Ketchum‘s “Small Town Saturday Night,” “Drivin’ My Life Way” and “I Love a Rainy Night” from Eddie Rabbitt and Mark Chesnutt‘s “Too Cold at Home.”
Fans crowded the sidewalks of Lower Broadway to get a glimpse inside, as the invitation-only crowd enjoyed once-in-a-lifetime performances.
Blake playfully taunted Voice competitor Kelly Clarkson as he brought her onstage to deliver a soulful take on Patty Loveless‘s “Blame It on Your Heart.” The first American Idol winner stuck around to sing backup as RaeLynn covered the Dixie Chicks‘ “I Can Love You Better.”
Blake stayed onstage for the entirety of Little Big Town’s performance, chiming in as they sang Restless Heart‘s “The Bluest Eyes in Texas,” as well as the Bellamy Brothers “If I Said You Had a Beautiful Body (Would You Hold It Against Me)” and a piece of the Eagles‘ “Lyin’ Eyes.”
Lauren Alaina surprised Micheal Ray by emerging to duet on Johnny Cash‘s “Folsom Prison Blues.” She stuck around to collaborate with Blake on one of the night’s most unexpected tunes, Rupert Holmes‘ “Escape (The Pina Colada Song).”
Once he’d run out of guests, Blake again took the stage, determined to make his all-star opening last until closing time.
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