Blake Shelton is one week away from the release of his For Recreational Use Only album. The record, his first since Body Language came out in 2021, includes his Top 5 single, “Texas.” The song seems likely to be his first No. 1 hit in five years, since “Happy Anywhere” with Gwen Stefani came out in 2020, not counting Shelton’s recent collaboration with Post Malone.
“Post Malone could sing a page out of the phone book and make it a No. 1 hit so I’m not counting ‘Pour Me A Drink,'” Shelton tells The Tennessean. “It’s been a while since I recorded a piece of music that is doing what my team and I hoped they could do from the standpoint of success they could achieve.”
It’s been 24 years since Shelton’s self-titled debut album was released. His longevity has, in his mind, earned him the right to only create the music he wants to make, which he did with For Recreational Use Only.
“I’m experienced (enough now to) have ideas about my career,” Shelton explains. “Plus, in the back of my mind, I always have thoughts.”
Shelton’s attention to detail extends to every area of his career, including his touring. A proven hitmaker by now, Shelton doesn’t take any of his success for granted.
“I still get nervous and feel the pressure to deliver when I get up on stage and have to perform,” the 48-year-old says. “Those are the moments along the way that have made me want to do this (all along). I always want to cut loose and make people think they got their money’s worth.
“From country radio to television and more, I’m lucky and blessed … I’m thankful that my career still (allows me) to feel so excited,” he continues. “I thought I could make a serious run in [this chapter of my career], so it’s awesome to have people share my emotions about that.”
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For Recreational Use Only includes not only “Texas,” but the spiritual “Let Him In Anyway,” the anthem “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” and his ““Hangin’ On” duet with Stefani. Shelton may not have written any of the songs on For Recreational Use Only, but he was as intentional about all 12 songs on the project.
“Party songs, ones with edgier perspectives,” Shelton says of how he chose songs. “Generally, the best songs in the industry that I can find … I just wanted to make the best record I could.
“These were lyrically well-written songs composed with great melodies,” he adds. “I pushed myself vocally to make these records jump out as much as possible.”
Shelton’s fans are eager for the release of For Recreational Use Only. But likely no one is as excited as Shelton.
“I had some things recorded that I had kind of been holding onto,” Shelton reveals on Country Countdown USA. “To put all that together and go, ‘Okay, now we need this, this, and this, I think.’ I got super into it and fired up this time, like the early days of making records, when everything was still out in front of me, and there was so much mystery out there. I kind of felt that way again this time, because it had been a long time. And honestly, I didn’t know if the door was going to still be open. It had been so long.”
Shelton will appear on the CBS TV show The Road this fall, working alongside Gretchen Wilson and Keith Urban. He also says he is open to a return to The Voice, someday. Pre-order For Recreational Use Only, and find all of Shelton’s music and upcoming shows at BlakeShelton.com.
Photo Credit: USA Network / Eric Ogden