Blake Shelton jumped in his truck, hit the road, and drove straight to Texas with one mission—to sing his brand-new No. 1 hit, “Texas,” live at the ACM Awards. The moment he hit the stage, the whole auditorium lit up, boots stomping and hearts racing—and even his ex-wife Miranda Lambert couldn’t help but get up and dance.

Introduction

There’s no doubt Blake Shelton takes pride in being an Okie, but lately, the Lone Star State has been shining particularly bright for him. The country music star recently earned his 30th No. 1 single with “Texas,” the energetic lead track from his upcoming 13th studio album, For Recreational Use Only. And just days ago, Shelton fired up his pickup and drove south to Frisco, Texas, where he’s set to present at the 60th Annual ACM Awards on Thursday, May 8.

But Shelton won’t just be handing out trophies. Ahead of the big night, he confirmed he’ll also step onto the stage at the Ford Center at The Star to perform “Texas” live—a moment that’s sure to be a highlight of the evening.

Making the Journey – Rain or Shine

It’s been a stormy week across North Texas and Southern Oklahoma, but the rough weather didn’t stop Shelton. Determined to make it to the ACMs, he climbed into his truck and powered through the rain.

“Just got in my truck and… freaking rain,” Shelton shared with Country Now. “Went through the storm and I was excited when I crossed over into Texas. It was like, wow, I’m literally going to Texas to sing ‘Texas’ at the ACM Awards. Which is pretty cool.”

 

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A New Chapter in a Legendary Career

Interestingly, it was another Texas-themed song that first launched Blake Shelton into stardom. His debut single, “Austin,” stayed at No. 1 for five weeks back in 2001. But over the past decade, much of Shelton’s focus has shifted. Between mentoring contestants for 12 years on The Voice and building his Ole Red restaurant chain, music took a bit of a backseat.

Now, after a four-year gap since his last album, Body Language (2021), Shelton is back in the spotlight with For Recreational Use Only, releasing Friday, May 9. The album’s first single, “Texas,” is not only a chart-topping hit but also his first release under a new label partnership with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville and Wheelhouse Records.

Shelton even compared the energy of “Texas” to his 2019 smash “God’s Country.” “Ken was telling me it’s been like five years since I had a number one,” he reflected. “So yeah, in a way, it feels like ‘God’s Country’ all over again. I was starting to wonder if maybe that was it.”

Clearly, it wasn’t. With “Texas” climbing the charts and a new album on the way, Blake Shelton proves once again that his country roots run deep—and they’re still growing strong.