A&E

National Finals Rodeo returns to Las Vegas, bringing country music’s biggest stars with it

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(Top, left to right) Shania Twain, George Strait, Carrie Underwood; (bottom, left to right) Rodney Carrington, Reba McEntire and Brooks & Dunn, Jason Aldean

Just before Thanksgiving, the Academy of Country Music announced that, after spending the past two years in Nashville, the 57th ACM Awards show will return to Las Vegas—March 7 at Allegiant Stadium. It will be streamed live exclusively on Prime Video, a first for a major music awards show.

One week earlier, country superstar and popular judge on The Voice Blake Shelton announced that he’ll be opening a Strip-side location of his Ole Red concert hall, bar and restaurant concept in 2023.

But Vegas doesn’t need developments like these to be considered a serious country music capital, and you don’t need to wait until next year or the year after for proof. The Wrangler National Finals Rodeo is back in town this week, and that means the Strip will be saturated with the genre’s biggest names and brightest stars. See how many of these shows you can check off.

RESIDENCIES

Shania Twain

Shania Twain

Shania Twain: Let’s Go! Twain’s second go-round on the Strip had just launched at Zappos Theater at Planet Hollywood in December 2019 when COVID hit, and she got stranded in Las Vegas. Now, she’s back onstage here, bringing her pop-skewing catalog to life in a fresh, unique way. December 2, 4-5, 9 & 11-12, 8 p.m., ticketmaster.com.

George Strait

George Strait

George Strait: Strait to Vegas He’s the only artist who has played multiple concerts every year at T-Mobile Arena since it opened in 2016, so this arena-sized show definitely counts as a residency—and a massively successful one at that. Strait brings a different supporting act every time he’s in town, with soulful Minnesota singer-songwriter Caitlyn Smith doing the honors this week. December 3-4, 8 p.m., axs.com.

Carrie Underwood: Reflection Speaking of honors, Underwood gets to open Resorts World Theatre, etching her name in Strip entertainment history as she premieres her first Las Vegas concert residency. December 3-4, 8 & 10-11, 8 p.m., axs.com.

Reba, Brooks & Dunn: Together in Vegas When Reba McEntire, Kix Brooks and Ronnie Dunn launched this series at the Colosseum at Caesars Palace in 2015, it reunited a trio that had toured together twice before and brought Brooks and Dunn back together after a 2010 breakup. After nearly 50 performances comprising all the hits from both distinguished acts, the residency winds down during rodeo season in Las Vegas. December 3-4, 7-8, 10-11 & 14-15, 7:30 p.m., ticketmaster.com.

HEADLINERS

Rodney Carrington and Jason Aldean

Little Big Town The rejuvenated Theater at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas has already seen an eclectic lineup in its short existence this year, and the equally varied, multiple award-winning vocal group Little Big Town makes for a welcome addition to this week’s country offerings. December 3-4, 8 p.m., axs.com.

Rodney Carrington The countrified comedian, actor and singer, who has been playing knockout NFR shows at MGM Grand for years, returns to the David Copperfield Theater for four performances. December 3-4 & 10-11, 9 p.m., mgmgrand.com.

Ron White The Texas-born Blue Collar Comedy Tour veteran returns to the Mirage Theatre’s Aces of Comedy series at just the right time. December 3-4 & 10-11, 10 p.m., mirage.com.

Josh Turner Get a little gospel in your rodeo week when this South Carolina native—who’ll help launch the Grand Ole Opry’s new Opry Country Christmas series in Nashville next week—performs at Venetian Theatre. December 4, 8 p.m., ticketmaster.com.

Jason Aldean He’ll be back in the room formerly known as Park Theater and recently renamed Dolby Live for three shows on his Back in the Saddle tour, but doesn’t it make sense for Aldean to sign on for a Vegas residency sometime soon? December 9-11, 9 p.m., ticketmaster.com.

SHOWROOMS, BARS & BEYOND

Cody Jinks and Dirks Bentley

Cody Jinks and Dirks Bentley

The Chelsea Cody Jinks, December 2-3 & 5; Brantley Gilbert, December 4; Cody Johnson, December 8-9; Dierks Bentley, December 10-11. Cosmopolitan, ticketmaster.com.

Golden Nugget Showroom Jo Dee Messina, December 2; John Michael Montgomery, December 4; Ray Wylie Hubbard, December 5; Ronnie Milsap, December 6; Tracy Lawrence, December 7; Terri Clark, December 8; John Anderson, December 9; Jamey Johnson, December 10. Golden Nugget, ticketmaster.com.

Gilley’s Saloon Just Dave Band, December 2; Michael Austin, December 3-5; Kevin Fowler, December 6-7; Scotty Alexander, December 7-10; Reckless Kelly, December 8-9, Rob Staley, December 10-11. Treasure Island, treasureisland.com.

Rhythm & Riffs Scotty Alexander Band, December 2-3; Wolfcreek, December 9; Dez Houston Band, December 4, 7 & 11; Ryan White Maloney, December 5; Brett Rigby Band, December 6, 8 & 10. Mandalay Bay, mandalaybay.com.

Money Baby Easton Corbin, December 2; Drake Milligan, December 3; David Lee Murphy, December 4; Jenna LaMaster, December 5; Wyatt McCubbin, December 6; William Michael Morgan, December 7; Glen Templeton, December 9; Tyler Booth, December 10; Heath Sanders, December 11. Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, moneybabylv.com.

Veil Pavilion Ned LeDoux, December 2-3; Thrillbilly Deluxe, December 4; Jenn Ford, December 5-6; The Heers Turner Oversize Band, December 7-8; Josh Ward and Randy Brown, December 9-10; American Thunder, December 11. Silverton, silvertoncasino.com.

South Point Showroom Aaron Watson, December 2-5; Chancey Williams, December 6-8; Randall King, December 9-11. South Point, southpointcasino.com.

Brooklyn Bowl Shane Smith and the Saints, Ian Munsick, December 3; Gregory Alan Isakov, Leif Vollebekk, December 6; The Dead South, December 8; Nelly, Red Shahan. December 10; Linq Promenade, ticketweb.com.

Dawg House Saloon Riley Green, December 3-4 & 10-11. Resorts World, axs.com.

Stoney’s Rockin’ Country Allie Colleen, December 3; Jordan Rowe, December 4; Heath Sanders, December 10; Sean Stemaly, December 11. Town Square, stoneysrockincountry.com.

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Brock Radke

Brock Radke is an award-winning writer and columnist who currently occupies the role of managing editor at Las Vegas Weekly ...

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