Blake Shelton has the No 1 song in the country. The Oklahoma native is celebrating “Texas” reaching the top of the charts. The song, his first release on BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, is from Shelton’s For Recreational Use Only album, out on May 9.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve had a solo No. 1 single, and I’m super fired up about this one,” Shelton says. “I had no idea if ‘Texas’ would be a number one song, but the first time I heard it, I knew that it was something different and it sounded like nothing else I’d ever done before.”
“Texas” was written by Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock, Josh Dorr, and Lalo Guzman. Not only is “Texas” Shelton’s 30th time to have a No. 1 single, but it’s also the first time Clawson, Sturrock, and Dorr have had a chart-topping single, and the second for Guzman.
“I’m excited for these songwriters,” Shelton says. “I know it’s some of these guys’ first number one song, and anytime you have a situation where someone’s getting their big break and you can be a little tiny part of it, it makes it extra special.”
Shelton also spoke out about the success of “Texas” on social media.
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“THANK YOU country radio, the fans, everyone who was part of ‘TEXAS,’mand everyone who has supported me over the years!!!!!!” Shelton writes. “‘Texas’ marks my 30th No. 1 as an artist. 30 is a lot of anything, and to have 30 number one songs is unbelievable. I’m really trying to take it all in. THANK YOU!!!!”
In the same post, the 48-year-old also shares a heartfelt letter to his fans.
“I’ve always been a nerd for stats and things like that in country music,” Shelton says in part. “I’m always looking up artists, whether it’s Ronnie Milsap or Alabama or George Strait or Reba, just to see how many albums they’ve sold or how many number ones they’ve had. And because of that, the idea of me having 30 number one singles, it blows my mind. I can’t even wrap my head around it, because I know how long it takes to get there, and how hard it is, and how blessed and lucky you have to be to get here.”
Before releasing “Texas,” Shelton admits he wondered if his best days in country music were behind him.
“I don’t think you’re being honest with yourself if you don’t have that thought, at least when you’ve been doing it as long as I have,” Shelton reveals on Country Countdown USA. “Like, there’s a new generation, and then another new generation that have come along in the last few years. You have to think that way or you’re not being honest. The excitement of watching ‘Texas’ take off the way it did, while we were still trying to finish up the album was even more inspiring, and lit more of a fire under me.”
Shelton has also released “Stay Country or Die Tryin” and “Let Him In Anyway” from For Recreational Use Only.See a track list below. Pre-order the record, and find all of Shelton’s music and upcoming shows at BlakeShelton.com.
For Recreational Use Only Tracklist:
1. Stay Country or Die Tryin’ – (Drew Parker, Graham Barham, Sam Ellis, Beau Bailey)
2. Texas – (Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman)
3. Hangin’ On (feat. Gwen Stefani) – (Sam Ellis, Charles Kelley, Greylan James)
4. Strangers – (Michael Hardy, Zach Crowell, Jameson Rodgers)
5. Let Him In Anyway – (Michael Hardy, Zach Abend, Kyle Clark, Carson Wallace)
6. Heaven Sweet Home (feat. Craig Morgan) – (Chris Tompkins, Sarah Buxton, Jake Rose)
7. Life’s Been Comin’ Too Fast – (Craig Wiseman, David Lee Murphy, Lindsay Rimes)
8. Don’t Mississippi – (Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Ben Hayslip, Josh Osborne)
9. All of My Love – (Colton Swon, Zach Swon)
10. Cold Can – (Bobby Pinson, Josh Osborne, Andrew DeRoberts)
11. The Keys – (Jay Brunswick, Brock Berryhill, Bobby Pinson)
12. Years (feat. John Anderson) – (Pat McLaughlin, John Anderson, David Ferguson, Daniel Auerbach)
Photo Credit: Robby Klein