Blake Shelton’s played Rupp before. But this Lexington concert will be a first.

One of the odder ways to measure the popularity of commercial artists is by viewing how their presences can be felt when they aren’t really there.

Take for instance, the season premiere earlier this month of “The Voice,” NBC’s ratings-friendly talent coaching show that Blake Shelton appeared on before exiting in 2023 after a 22-year run.

Among the program’s more animated turns was the country singer’s playful sparring with fellow judge/coach Adam Levine during their seasons together. Earlier this month, with Shelton gone, Levine began interviewing a contestant. That lasted only until new coach Kelsea Ballerini pressed a button on her chair unleashing a recording of Shelton dissing Levine from afar. “Adam is a big baby,” went the first quip. “Adam won’t shut up,” went a second. Then, the coup de grâce — “Adam says lot of stupid stuff.”

A voice on “The Voice” voicing from afar. Blake Shelton gets around.

For the past 24 years, the Oklahoma-born singer has been a constant presence on the charts, on the radio, on the stage and, yes, on the TV. Mixing traditional country inspiration with contemporary pop accessibility, he has sold over 13 million albums in the United States alone (with 2013’s triple platinum “Based on a True Story...” topping the list), earned six Academy of Country Music Awards (the most recent one for the 2020 single “God’s Country”) and stands as one of the only country artists that can list “The Angry Birds Movie” on his bulging dossier.

Alas, his character, Earl, was a party-hearty pig, not a bird — another “Voice,” if you will.

Shelton is no stranger to Lexington audiences, either. He held court at the Robert F. Stephens Courthouse Plaza downtown during a rainstorm as part of festivities for the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games with his first headlining concert at Rupp Arena following in 2013. Shelton performed as an opening act there over the previous decade and made a cameo appearance with then-fiancé Miranda Lambert in 2010 (Shelton is currently married to pop songstress Gwen Stefani.)

Shelton has something altogether different planned for when he returns to Rupp this week. His Thursday performance will mark the opening of his month-long Friends & Heroes 2025 tour, a trek that has him sharing the stage with three artists whose music dominated the charts as Shelton’s career was getting started — Craig Morgan, Deana Carter and Trace Adkins.

Unlike many multi-act country bills, the singers won’t serve as show openers (newcomer Emily Ann Roberts, one of Shelton’s coaching proteges from the ninth season of “The Voice,” will kick off the show). Instead, Morgan, Carter and Adkins will all be featured during Shelton’s set. Kind of half music festival, half hero worship.

Just in case you need a refresher on the guests:

▪ Craig Morgan: Army veteran whose self-titled debut album came out in 2000, just a year before Shelton’s first record (also self-titled.) An alumnus of several previous Rupp shows as an opening act, his many radio hits include “That’s What I Love About Sunday,” “Redneck Yacht Club” and “Little Bit of Life.” Morgan’s good-natured music was described in 2012 by The New York Times this way: “There’s not an outlaw bone in his body. Even hits like ‘Redneck Yacht Club’ felt like advertisements for church picnics more than any endorsement of misbehavior.”

▪ Deana Carter: Nashville singer whose 1996 debut album “Did I Shave My Legs for This?” earned seven hits, establishing her as one of the most visible female singers in country music from that era. The album’s third hit, “Strawberry Wine” took Single of the Year honors at the Country Music Association Awards in 1997. A new version with an all-star guest list that included Vince Gill, Ashley McBryde, Martina McBride, Lauren Alaina, Sara Evans and Terri Clark was recorded for the 25th anniversary reissue of “Did I Shave My Legs for This” in 2021.

▪ Trace Adkins: Louisiana-born singer with an extended performance history alongside Shelton. The two collaborated on a 2009 single, “Hillbilly Bone,” that went on to win Vocal Event of the Year at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2010. Adkins was also part of Shelton’s previous Friends & Heroes tour in 2011 and guested on “The Voice” in 2018. Adkins’ own chart-topping hits include “(This Ain’t) No Thinkin’ Thing,” “Ladies Love Country Boys” and “You’re Gonna Miss This.” Adkins maintains a prolific career as an actor in film and television, as well. He was part of the single-season Fox drama series “Monarch” about a country music dynasty family.

In case a few songs with Shelton on Thursday aren’t enough for you, all three artists have Kentucky performances planned for the summer. Morgan will play the Harvest Festival in Elizabethtown on May 31, Carter performs as part of Rock the Country 2025 at the Boyd County Fairgrounds in Ashland on July 12 and Adkins headlines at the Paramount Arts Center, also in Ashland, on June 7.

What of Shelton himself? What’s new with the host of Heroes & Friends 2025? Well, 2024 began with a duet single featuring wife Gwen Stefani, “Purple Irises”), wound through a summertime hit alongside rapper-turned-country stylist Post Malone (“Pour Me a Drink”) and ended with a slinky single of sly wanderlust titled “Texas.” The title of the latter stands in contrast to “Austin,” Shelton’s debut single from 2011 that stayed atop the country charts for a full month.

Shelton indulged in a very visible warm up gig for Heroes & Friends 2025 and has an even cooler intermission mapped out. The tour was prefaced by a six-show run (over 11 nights) at The Colosseum at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Then on March 19, with three days still remaining on Friends & Heroes 2025, he will host “Opry 100: A Live Presentation.” The celebration honors the 100th anniversary of the Grand Ole Opry and will be telecast from two performance homes: its current residence at the Grand Ole Opry House and its previous digs at the Ryman Auditorium. The event will air live on NBC.

Scheduled to perform will be Opry members Ashley McBryde, Brad Paisley, Carly Pearce, Carrie Underwood, Clint Black, Dierks Bentley, Garth Brooks, Trace Adkins, Kelsea Ballerini, Lainey Wilson, Luke Combs, Marty Stuart, Reba McEntire, Trisha Yearwood, Vince Gill and Randy Travis.

A few friends. A lot of heroes. Blake Shelton gets around.

Blake Shelton: Friends & Heroes 2025 featuring Craig Morgan, Deana Carter and Trace Adkins with Emily Ann Roberts

When: Feb. 27 at 7 p.m.

Where: Rupp Arena, 430 W. Vine

Tickets: $32.50-$172.50