Blake Shelton has never been shy about showing his admiration—and playful affection—for fellow country star Trace Adkins. During a stop on the Friends & Heroes tour, Shelton took things to the next level, planting an unexpected smooch on Adkins in front of a roaring crowd. Adkins, ever the tough guy, hilariously protested, shouting, “Don’t kiss me no more!” as the audience erupted in laughter. Their longtime friendship and onstage antics continue to entertain fans, proving that their bond is as strong as ever—whether Adkins likes it or not!

Blake Shelton has nothing but respect—and a whole lot of affection—for his longtime friend Trace Adkins. But if you ask Adkins, he’d probably prefer Shelton to dial it back.

Adkins, along with Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Emily Ann Roberts, is currently on the road with Shelton for his Friends & Heroes tour, which kicked off Thursday night in Lexington, Kentucky. By Friday night, the tour had rolled into Knoxville’s Thompson-Boling Arena, where Shelton had a surprise in store for Adkins after they wrapped up their duet, “Hell Right.”

As the song ended, Shelton pulled Adkins into a hug—then, in true Shelton fashion, planted a big kiss on Adkins’ cheek. Adkins gruffly shoved him away, feigning outrage as if he might storm off the stage.

“Take it, take it all,” Shelton quipped, egging him on before pleading for him to stay and sing their signature hit, “Hillbilly Bone.”

“Don’t kiss me no more,” Adkins growled.

Shelton and Adkins: A Playful Friendship on Full Display

This isn’t the first time Shelton has publicly showered Adkins with affection. Their friendship is built on years of playful banter, with Shelton never missing a chance to heap praise on Adkins—and Adkins pretending to be less than thrilled about it. But beneath the teasing, it’s clear their camaraderie is genuine.

After a brief retreat, Adkins returned to the spotlight, and together, he and Shelton ignited the arena with a rowdy rendition of “Hillbilly Bone”—a song that played a crucial role in launching Shelton to superstardom.

Shelton Shares the Stage with His Friends & Heroes

While many headliners keep the spotlight firmly on themselves, Shelton takes every opportunity to showcase his band and fellow touring artists. Rather than relegating them to short opening sets, he weaves them into the fabric of the entire night.

Roberts kicked off the show, but the other artists were seamlessly integrated throughout the evening. Shelton launched his set with fan-favorite hits like “Pour Me a Drink” (his chart-topping Post Malone cover), “I’ll Name the Dogs,” “All About Tonight,” and “Neon Light” before stepping aside to let Morgan take over for a three-song performance.

Shelton returned with high-energy renditions of “Guy with the Girl,” “Nobody But You,” “Happy Anywhere,” and “Honey Bee” before yielding the stage to Carter. Later, he came back for some of his biggest classics, including “Home,” “Some Beach,” “Ol’ Red,” “Austin,” and his latest radio hit, “Texas.”

When Adkins emerged for his set, the crowd erupted. He delivered powerhouse performances of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” “You’re Gonna Miss This,” and “Ladies Love Country Boys” before Shelton joined him for their collaborations, “Hell Right” and “Hillbilly Bone.”

A Celebration of Country Music and Camaraderie

Toward the end of the night, Shelton introduced an acoustic segment designed to highlight his friends and country music heroes. Initially pitched as a “best-song-wins” competition, Shelton quickly conceded, joking that his friends had better songs than he did.

He sprinkled in classic covers like Alabama’s “Mountain Music” and George Strait’s “All My Exes Live in Texas” before closing out the night with a trio of powerhouse hits: “God’s Country,” “Boys ‘Round Here,” and “God Gave Me You.”

Most headliners structure their shows to shine a light on themselves and their music. Shelton, however, has found a way to do just that while also uplifting his peers and celebrating the genre that made him.

Above all, Shelton seems to be having more fun than anyone else in the arena. He’s the first to admit he’s competitive and wants to stay at the top of country music—but at the heart of it all, his love for the music, his friends, and his fans shines the brightest. And with an unmatched catalog of hits as his soundtrack, it’s a winning combination.