His tribute to “The Gambler” already had the room locked in, with the neon Vegas glow, the classic chorus, and the whole arena singing like it was one last toast to a legend. But then came the moment fans would not stop replaying: Blake appeared to tweak one line right there onstage, giving the song a more personal, almost farewell-like sting. The performance got the cheers. The lyric switch sold the emotion. But the real twist was the reaction shot everyone wanted — his ex-wife in the crowd, frozen for a second with that unreadable look, somewhere between memory, pride, and “did he just say that?”

Blake Shelton took the stage Sunday during the 2026 ACM Awards with an emotional performance of Kenny Rogers’ classic “The Gambler” in honor of legendary songwriter Don Schlitz.

Schlitz, who died in April at the age of 73 after a sudden illness, wrote “The Gambler” before it became one of Kenny Rogers’ signature songs.

The song, which was recorded by Rogers in 1978 and certified five times platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America, opened doors for country music in the ’70s, a track that was not only a huge genre hit but also a pop crossover one.

The Grand Ole Opry and country music hall of famer was among the most influential songwriters in the history.

Schlitz’s songs are widely considered some of the most unwavering in country music, and have been recorded by such hitmakers as Rogers (“The Gambler,” “The Greatest”), Randy Travis (“On the Other Hand,” “Forever and Ever, Amen”), The Judds (“I Know Where I’m Going”), The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (“I Love Only You,”) Tanya Tucker (“I Won’t Take Less Than Your Love,”) Mary Chapin Carpenter (“He Thinks He’ll Keep Her”) and many others.

He also wrote “You Can’t Make Old Friends” for Rogers and Dolly Parton; their first duet since 1983’s “Islands in the Stream.”

“The Gambler,” won the Grammy for Best Country Song in 1978 and the Country Music Association’s Song of the Year in 1979.

Schlitz was the ASCAP Country Songwriter of the Year for four consecutive years from 1988-1991.

He also won three CMA Song of the Year Awards, two ACM Song of the Year awards and two Grammys.

He was inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Association Hall of Fame in 1993.

Schlitz is survived by his wife Stacey, daughter Cory Dixon and her husband Matt Dixon, son Pete Schlitz and his wife Christian Webb Schlitz, grandchildren Roman, Gia, Isla and Lilah, brother Brad Schlitz and sister Kathy Hinkley.