The 48-year-old is a charmer who sells himself with a genuine smile, casual sincerity and unabashed romanticism. “My songs are not brain surgery,” he explained. With his quick-witted, self-deprecating tongue, he spiced up a repertoire that included many ballads and mid-tempo songs and was largely devoid of rousing party tunes.

Coolest moments: The highlight was 2019’s “God’s Country,” a moody Southern rock decree with a Native American musical undercurrent. And how can you argue against dog songs? Namely, the sweet “I’ll Name the Dogs” from 2017 and the story song “Ol’ Red” from 2002, his swampy reworking of the old George Jones hit.

Minus points: “Boys Round Here” is a bro-country-style anthem from 2013 that wasn’t catchy, and Post Malone’s new addition “Pour Me a Drink” was also upbeat but not loud enough for its title.

Best joke: “Fried ranch dressing?” he said of a new State Fair food item. “I ate it and it’s amazing. What’s wrong with me? I loved it.”

Supporting act: With Shelton as her coach, Emily Ann Roberts finished second in 2015 on “The Voice,” a show she described as “a tiny television show.” In 30 minutes on Sunday, Roberts, 25, of Knoxville, Tennessee, offered a homey presence and an appealingly nasal voice of original material that has yet to make waves in Nashville.