Luke Bryan is taking some time during his Las Vegas residency to tribute the country icons that came before him, performing a medley during his Luke Bryan: VEGAS show that includes songs by Ronnie Milsap, George Strait, Conway Twitty and more.
Beginning the performance, Bryan praised Ronnie Milsap before singing a short snippet of his hit “(There’s) No Gettin’ Over Me.” After he concluded, he shared a story about attending one of the country star’s concerts.
“So I went to see Ronnie Milsap,” he said. “I paid $12 and I was expecting 40 number one songs that night. And guess what? He did not do 40 number one songs. And I was extremely agitated and pissed about it. And it was just, I figured for $12, I should have three and a half hours worth of Ronnie Milsap. I was expecting some Dollar General s—t. Costco for country.”
Watch Luke Bryan’s Impressive Medley Of Covers Below
Conway Twitty And Alabama
Conway Twitty was up next. “I got to fluff, I got to do my hair,” Bryan joked before singing the chorus of Twitty’s “Slow Hand” and after pointing out that Twitty had 45 consecutive number one songs.
“That song makes me want to have chest hair and I don’t have any freaking chest hair,” he cracked. “I mean, I want like a big old, just a wad of just man hair and just sing to the damn country ass women. Guys, my job tonight is to try to get y’all to hook up with somebody tonight. I think Conway was trying to tell us something in that song back in the late seventies. What was the message ladies? Slow hands, gentlemen. Right?”
He next asked the crowd if they knew of the band Alabama, stopping his band after they played a section of Alabama’s “If You’re Gonna Play in Texas (You Gotta Have a Fiddle in the Band)” before moving into “Mountain Music.”
“Hold up,” Bryan said. “I really don’t like it when y’all react to other people’s music more than mine. I mean, get excited and everything, but have some limitations on your emotions for me.”
Alabama had 41 No. 1 songs, as Bryan told the crowd, recalling that he went to see the band in concert but “they did not do 41 number ones” and “I was pissed about it.”
Also Honored George Strait And Tim McGraw
Next on Bryan’s list was George Strait, who got a brief rendition of “You Look So Good in Love” before Bryan shared that Strait has had a massive 60 No. 1 songs throughout his career.
“I went to see George Strait and guess what happened? I blacked out [and] I got too excited for Tim McGraw, I don’t remember George even walking on the stage,” he said before singing a very brief snippet of McGraw’s “Indian Outlaw.”
Returning to his story, he said, “So later that night in my jail cell after the George Strait concert, I found out that he did not do 60 number one songs that night. And I was pissed.”
He continued by discussing the fact that the artists he had mentioned and others often perform medleys of their hits during their shows. This led Bryan to his own collection of No. 1 songs, which currently stands at 30. “I’ve had 30 number one songs because of you guys… this is my medley for y’all,” he said before launching into his own show. “And y’all better not be pissed about it.”
Previously Honored The Late Music Icon Jimmy Buffett
During a performance on September 2, Bryan paid tribute to another icon, dedicating his show to the late Jimmy Buffett, who had passed away one day prior. “We’re going to dedicate tonight to the great Jimmy Buffett ladies and gentlemen,” Bryan told the crowd before performing one of Buffett’s signature hits, “Margaritaville.”
When he finished the song, he tipped his hat and declared, “Here’s to the great Jimmy Buffett!”
Bryan’s residency began in February 2022 and will conclude in January 2024. The final dates include a New Year’s Eve performance as well as shows on December 29, 30 and 31 and January 3, 5 and 6.
Additionally, Luke Bryan is also on his annual Farm Tour this month with support from Kameron Marlowe, Chayce Beckham, the Peach Pickers and DJ Rock.
