By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Feb 21, 2018 at 7:01 AM Photography: David Bernacchi

This morning, Summerfest added country star and famed "The Voice" judge Blake Shelton to its upcoming headliner lineup, hitting the American Family Insurance Amphitheater on Friday, July 6. Shelton marks the second country act currently slated to headline the Big Gig, with Florida Georgia Line performing on June 30.

Shelton last performed in Milwaukee in 2016, also at Summerfest, but he's no stranger to Country Thunder, either, hitting the beloved Twin Lakes country festival in 2015

The Big Gig news comes at a big time for Shelton, who is currently prepping the latest season of the hit singing competition show "The Voice," which will premiere on NBC on Monday, Feb. 26. Outside of the showbiz spotlight, however, Shelton's been keeping busy on his music, unveiling a new album every year over the last seven years (excluding 2015) – most recently including "Texoma Shore," released last November. He's been nominated for eight Grammy awards as well as won several Country Music Awards, American Country Awards and, most importantly, the title of People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive in 2017. 

Tickets for the show go on sale beginning Saturday, March 3, at 10 a.m. on both Summerfest's website and Ticketmaster.com. Tickets can also be purchased in person at the Summerfest box office, Ticketmaster Ticket Centers and select Walmart stores, as well as over the phone by dialing either (800) 745-3000 for a live Ticketmaster agent or (866) 448-7849 for the "Ticketmaster Express" automated phone line.

In addition to Shelton's return, Summerfest also announced a new sponsor for the 2018 Big Gig: L.L. Bean, which will serve as the lawn seating sponsor for the American Family Insurance Amphitheater. 

As for now, here's the Big Gig headliner lineup as it current stands:

June 27: Imagine Dragons
June 28: James Taylor and Bonnie Raitt
June 29: Halsey and Logic
June 30: Florida Georgia Line
July 1: Dave Matthews Band
July 3: TBA
July 4: Journey and Def Leppard
July 5: Shawn Mendes
July 6: TBA
July 7: TBA
July 8: TBA 

Four more headliners – plus the grounds stage acts – are still on deck, so for more Summerfest announcements, stay tuned to OnMilwaukee. 

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.