LAS VEGAS, Nevada — The Las Vegas Strip has long been a glittering stage for country music’s biggest stars, with a history of residencies stretching back decades and continuing to evolve in 2025. From sold-out runs to emotional farewells, the city remains a magnet for legends and contemporary icons alike, cementing its status as a hub for live entertainment.
Country music’s roots in Las Vegas run deep. In spring 1959, western swing pioneer Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys took the stage at the Showboat Hotel and Casino, marking an early chapter in the genre’s Vegas story. A few years later, in the early 1960s, Patsy Cline blazed a trail as the first female country headliner with a 35-day stint at The Mint downtown. Willie Nelson, the songwriter behind Cline’s timeless hit “Crazy,” followed suit in 1963 at the Golden Nugget and has returned multiple times, including a 2019 performance at the Venetian Theatre.
Over the decades, the Strip has hosted a parade of country royalty. Icons like Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers, and Dolly Parton have graced its stages, while more recent acts like Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, Brooks & Dunn with Reba McEntire, George Strait, and Lady A (formerly Lady Antebellum) have kept the tradition alive. The appeal lies in the city’s ability to draw massive crowds—boosted by tourism and its proximity to Elon Musk’s Vegas Loop, which connects key venues like the convention center and Resorts World to the Strip.
This year has seen a mix of endings and new beginnings for country residencies. Luke Bryan concluded his engagement at Resorts World on January 6, 2024, while Miranda Lambert wrapped her “Velvet Rodeo” residency at Planet Hollywood on April 6, 2024. Keith Urban completed a run at Fontainebleau’s BleauLive Theater, performing five shows in October 2024 and another five in February 2025. Meanwhile, Garth Brooks bid farewell to his 54-show “Plus One” residency at Caesars Palace’s Colosseum on March 8, 2025, after a blockbuster run that thrilled fans.
Not all residencies are winding down, however. Brad Paisley extended his “One Man Six Strings” engagement at the Encore Theater at Wynn Las Vegas with additional performances scheduled for May 9 and 10, 2025. Kenny Chesney is set to make history as the first country artist to headline a residency at the Sphere Las Vegas, bringing his high-energy shows to the cutting-edge venue for 15 dates in May and June 2025.
Carrie Underwood, one of country music’s most celebrated voices, is preparing to close her chapter on the Strip this week. Her “Reflection: The Las Vegas Residency” at Resorts World Theater will end with final performances on April 9, 11, and 12, 2025, after 71 shows since its debut on December 1, 2021. The 100-minute production has featured 20 of her hits, including nine chart-topping singles, often selling out the 5,000-seat venue. Ticket prices for the remaining shows range from $38 to $250, though prime resale tickets for the closing night have soared to around $1,500. With 85 million records sold worldwide, 29 No. 1 singles, and a record as the most-awarded female country artist for singles in RIAA history, Underwood’s Vegas tenure has been a triumph.