Blake Shelton honored late country music legends Don Schlitz and Kenny Rogers during the 2026 ACM Awards with a heartfelt tribute performance of the iconic hit, “The Gambler.”
Taking the stage at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Shelton paid tribute to the late Kenny Rogers, the beloved country music icon who made the song famous, as well as legendary songwriter Don Schlitz, who penned the timeless classic. Don Schlitz passed away on April 16, 2026, at the age of 73 following a sudden illness, while Kenny Rogers passed away peacefully at his Georgia home on March 20, 2020, at the age of 81 from natural causes.
Blake Shelton delivered an emotional performance of the track while honoring the legacy of one of country music’s most recognizable songs.
“You got to know when to hold ’em, know when to fold ’em/ Know when to walk away and know when to run/ You never count your money when you’re sittin’ at the table/ There’ll be time enough for countin’ when the dealing’s done,” Shelton sang on the tune’s chorus.
Ahead of his performance, Shelton told Country Now that he is “honored” and “excited” that he gets to pay tribute to Schlitz and Rogers.
“I always love it when these award shows take time to honor someone that we’ve lost,” Shelton told the outlet backstage after ACM Awards rehearsals. “The good thing about this thing being on Amazon, like a streamer, is I don’t think there’s really these timing restraints. I think they can just do whatever. And so I was excited that I get to do the full version of ‘The Gambler’ because we lost Don [Schlitz] here, four weeks ago or something like that…It was sudden. It’s really sad. And we lost Kenny [Rogers] four or five years ago.”
Solely written by Don Schlitz, “The Gambler” was released as a single on November 15, 1978, serving as the title track to Kenny Rogers’ album of the same name. The song went on to become one of the most iconic tracks in country music history and one of the biggest hits of Rogers’ career.
“That particular song is like two legends came together and made one of the most important pieces of music in country music history…I would say it’s in the top 10, at least it’s in my top 10 of all time,” Shelton admitted to Country Now.
Blake Shelton’s version of “The Gambler” is now available as an Amazon Music Original.
The 2026 ACM Awards also featured performances from Cody Johnson, Dan + Shay, Ella Langley, Jordan Davis, Kacey Musgraves, Kane Brown, Lainey Wilson, Lee Ann Womack, Little Big Town, Miranda Lambert, Parker McCollum, Riley Green, The Red Clay Strays, Thomas Rhett, Zach Top and more, as well as ACM New Female Artist of the Year Avery Anna and ACM New Male Artist of the Year Tucker Wetmore.
The 61st Annual Academy of Country Music Awards also included a star-studded list of presenters, including Andrew Whitworth, Ashley McBryde, Carl Edwards, Corey LaJoie, Keith Urban, Lauren Alaina, Michael Bublé, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Shaboozey, The War And Treaty, T.J. Osborne and more.
Female artists led this year’s nominations, with Megan Moroney earning nine nods, followed by Miranda Lambert with eight, and both Ella Langley and Lainey Wilson tied with seven. Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, and Cody Johnson also entered the night as top nominees.
The 2026 ACM Awards brought country music’s biggest night back to Las Vegas in a star-studded celebration hosted by legendary songwriter and best-selling female country artist Shania Twain, marking her first time leading the show. The broadcast streamed live exclusively on Prime Video across more than 240 countries and territories and aired Sunday, May 17, 2026, from the iconic MGM Grand Garden Arena. The show was also available to stream via the Amazon Music app and Amazon Music channel on Twitch. For country music fans that missed the live broadcast, the full show will also be available to stream on Prime Video the following day (May 18) at 8/7c.
From unforgettable performances to career-defining wins, the 61st ACM Awards delivered another landmark evening celebrating the best of country music on one of its biggest global stages.
