Luke Bryan knows rain makes corn, and corn makes whiskey. He believes most people are good. He’s one of the most award-winning country artists of all time and the most beloved music awards host of the modern era. With the release of his first single, “Country On,” from his upcoming eighth studio album and the success of his Resorts World Las Vegas residency, Bryan is poised to lead the way for the next Era of Good Feeling that the republic will experience as it heads towards its 250th anniversary in 2026.
Bryan scored near-universal social media kudos for pulling duty with Peyton Manning as a co-host of the 56th annual CMA Awards in Nashville. His performance of “Country On,” a celebration of working-class folks, was a highlight of the Nov. 9 ceremony. “Hey barkeep, how ’bout another round/Keep the neon lit in the crazy town” may well address the team serving up libations at Resorts World Theatre.
“Country On,” with its anthemic declaration, “I say hey hey USA/We ain’t seen our better days,” is the lead track to the upcoming album and was added to the last spate of dates of Luke Bryan Live in September. Bryan kicked off those Resorts World concerts with “That’s My Kind of Night” from 2013’s Crash My Party and closed with “I Don’t Want This Night to End” from 2011’s Tailgates & Tanlines, vocalizing the sentiment of fans in attendance.
The sprawling setlists covered nearly two dozen songs from Bryan’s catalog, from more recent tunes such as “One Margarita” and “Waves” to slice-of-life chestnuts like “Huntin’, Fishin’ and Lovin’ Every Day” and “Rain Is a Good Thing” to party-bro ditties “Drunk on You” and “Drink a Beer.” Expect his latest salt-of-the-Earth single, “Prayin’ in a Deer Stand,” to be performed at his next half-dozen dates.
Resorts World, Nov. 30, Dec. 2-3, 7-9 & 10. axs.com
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