Blake Shelton Brought the ACM Awards to a Powerful Close With ‘The Gambler’ [Watch]

Blake Shelton helped bring the 2026 ACM Awards to an emotional close with a performance that had the entire arena singing along.

As the night wrapped up in Las Vegas, Shelton took the stage to perform Kenny Rogers’ classic “The Gambler” in honor of legendary songwriter Don Schlitz, who died in April at the age of 73 following a sudden illness.

By the final chorus, it had become one of the night’s most memorable moments.

Blake Honors Don Schlitz

Shelton performed the iconic hit as a tribute to Schlitz, who wrote “The Gambler” before it became one of Kenny Rogers’ signature songs.

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Dressed for the moment, Shelton delivered a version of the song that quickly had both fans and fellow artists on their feet singing along.

Released in 1978, “The Gambler” became a massive crossover hit for Rogers, topping the country charts while also reaching the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.

A Full-Circle Moment for Blake Shelton

The performance carried extra meaning for Shelton, who previously recorded his own version of “The Gambler” in 2006 while working with legendary producer Bobby Braddock.

Leading up to the ACM Awards, Shelton also released a new cover of the song exclusively through Amazon Music ahead of the televised tribute.

Remembering Don Schlitz’s Legacy

Beyond “The Gambler,” Schlitz helped shape country music history with a long list of iconic hits.

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The Hall of Fame songwriter wrote 16 No. 1 country songs throughout his career, including Randy Travis’ “Forever and Ever, Amen” and Keith Whitley’s “When You Say Nothing at All.”

Closing the ACM Awards on a High Note

Shelton, who is currently in the middle of his Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace, helped send the ACM Awards out on an emotional and celebratory note.

For a few minutes inside the arena, it felt like just about everybody knew when to hold ’em — and when to sing along.