Blake Shelton is back with a new song. After“ Texas” became his 30th No. 1 single, Shelton returned with “Stay Country or Die Tryin'” at the recent American Music Awards. “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” is from Shelton’s latest For Recreational Use Only album, out now.

“Stay Country or Die Tryin'” was written by Drew Parker, Graham Barham, Sam Ellis and Beau Bailey.

“When I heard ‘Stay Country or Die Tryin,’’ it took me back to the first time I heard ‘Ol’ Red’ or ‘God’s Country,’” says Shelton. “It’s got so much energy and is full of those little catchphrases and things we say out in the country. I absolutely fell in love with it. I’m proud of this recording—and I love singing it live even more. Hopefully, you’ll come catch a show and sing it with us.”

For Recreational Use Only is Shelton’s first new album in four years, after Body Language came out in 2021. At the time, Shelton needed the break, unsure what his future in country music looked like.

“For a few years there, I was having a pretty hot streak in country music, and I happened to also be on the No. 1 television show at the same time,” Shelton tells American Songwriter, referring to his 23 seasons on The Voice. “Trying to bounce back and be sure you don’t lose momentum in this lane, but you have to do this job. You signed up to do it. And eventually, it did do a number on me.”

Shelton might have assumed his best days in country music were behind him, if not for Post Malone asking Shelton to join him on “Pour Me A Drink,” for Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion album.

“You can’t step back and then expect to step back in, and anybody would still be waiting on you,” Shelton acknowledges. “I remember just being blown away that Post Malone even thought of me—’Really? Do you think he meant to call me?’”

Shelton knew when he started working on For Recreational Use Only, his first record on BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, that it was a special song. But he had no idea that the song would mark his 30th time to sit at the top of the charts.

“I’ve always been a nerd for stats and things like that in country music,” Shelton says. “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.”

Find “Stay Country or Die Tryin'” and all of Shelton’s music and upcoming shows at BlakeShelton.com.