Published by Cel Manero from Global One Media Inc.
“It’s just wild trying to stay on top of it,” he confesses.
Blake Shelton has built a career that most artists can only aspire to achieve. With numerous awards under his belt, including the CMA Entertainer of the Year, he’s also celebrated 29 No.1 hits on country radio and sold over 13 million albums. Hailing from Oklahoma, Shelton became widely recognized for his 23-season stint on NBC’s The Voice.
Despite his extensive experience, Blake Shelton sometimes feels out of touch while navigating the influx of new talent in country music. In a recent interview with Audacy’s Katie Neal, Shelton admitted that he often feels unfamiliar with many of the names appearing on the charts.
Blake Shelton recently shared his thoughts on the surge of fresh talent in country music, admitting that even as a seasoned artist, he sometimes struggles to keep up. In a conversation with Audacy’s Katie Neal, Shelton confessed that when checking the charts, he often recognizes only about 40% of the listed artists.
“There’s just so much amazing talent,” he said. “I’ll look at a chart and honestly think, ‘Who is that?’ and find myself turning to Google just to figure it out. It’s crazy trying to stay updated.”
Despite the wave of new artists, Shelton remains relevant thanks to the success of his latest single, “Texas.” He shared that he can feel the song’s momentum growing during his live performances, and he’s incredibly grateful to still have a song climbing the charts this far into his career.
“I’ll sing some of my older songs and think, ‘Wow, this one’s 18 years old, that one’s 23,’” he recalled. “Then I get to Texas in the setlist and realize how fortunate I am to still have a track making waves on the radio after 25 years in the industry. This song has really taken on a life of its own, and it’s just exciting.”
The success of Texas follows Shelton’s hit collaboration with Post Malone. Even with his extensive achievements, Shelton admitted he still occasionally questions the longevity of his presence on country radio.
“Just when you start to think, ‘Well, I guess that was it,’ something like this happens,” Blake Shelton reflected. “And suddenly, I’m still in there with these younger artists, just trying to keep my head above water.”
His latest single, “Texas,” marks a significant moment in Shelton’s career, as it’s his first release under his new label, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. This follows his departure from Warner Music Nashville last year. Shelton hinted that a new album is also on the horizon.
“We finally turned the album over to the label,” he revealed. “People kept asking, ‘When’s the album coming out?’ and I just said, ‘Whenever the label decides time’s up, I’ll stop working on it.’”
Shelton is currently on his Friends & Heroes Tour, joined by special guests Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Trace Adkins, along with a very special appearance from Emily Ann Roberts.