Country music icon Blake Shelton has officially reached a new milestone in his celebrated career: 30 No. 1 country singles. His latest chart-topper, “Texas,” serves as the lead single from his upcoming album For Recreational Use Only, releasing Friday, May 9 via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.
The song has already found international success, enjoying an impressive eight-week run at No. 1 in the U.K. and topping the Canadian charts for two weeks.
“It’s been a few years since I’ve had a solo No. 1 single, and I’m super fired up about this one,” said Shelton. “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.”
A Career Milestone for Shelton—and a Breakthrough for New Writers
Produced by longtime collaborator Scott Hendricks, “Texas” was written by Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock, Josh Dorr, and Lalo Guzman. The track marks a major breakthrough for its writers—it’s the first No. 1 single for Clawson, Sturrock, and Dorr, and the second for Guzman.
“I’m excited for these songwriters,” Shelton shared. “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 now joins a rare group of country legends with 30 or more No. 1 hits, including George Strait, Alabama, Kenny Chesney, and Ronnie Milsap. Reflecting on the achievement, he acknowledged the long road to this point.
“‘Texas’ marks my 30th number one as an artist. Thirty is a lot of anything, and to have 30 number one songs is unbelievable, and I’m really trying to take it all in,” he said. “I have to thank the fans and the industry for their support throughout these years.”
A Deep Love for Country Music—and Country Music Stats
Shelton, a self-professed stats enthusiast, finds the accomplishment almost surreal.
“I’ve always been a nerd for stats and things like that in country music,” he admitted. “I’m always looking up artists’ stats, whether it’s Ronnie Milsap or Alabama or George Strait or Reba, and just to see how many albums they’ve sold or how many number-one songs 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.”
For Recreational Use Only: New Album Drops May 9
Shelton’s new 12-track album For Recreational Use Only marks his first studio release in four years. The project spans themes of love, grit, heart, and staying true to one’s roots, all anchored by Shelton’s unmistakable voice and storytelling.
The album features guest appearances by Gwen Stefani, Craig Morgan, and John Anderson.
For Recreational Use Only Tracklist:
- Stay Country or Die Tryin’ – (Drew Parker, Graham Barham, Sam Ellis, Beau Bailey)
- Texas – (Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock, Josh Dorr, Lalo Guzman)
- Hangin’ On (feat. Gwen Stefani) – (Sam Ellis, Charles Kelley, Greylan James)
- Strangers – (Michael Hardy, Zach Crowell, Jameson Rodgers)
- Let Him In Anyway – (Michael Hardy, Zach Abend, Kyle Clark, Carson Wallace)
- Heaven Sweet Home (feat. Craig Morgan) – (Chris Tompkins, Sarah Buxton, Jake Rose)
- Life’s Been Comin’ Too Fast – (Craig Wiseman, David Lee Murphy, Lindsay Rimes)
- Don’t Mississippi – (Shane McAnally, Ross Copperman, Ben Hayslip, Josh Osborne)
- All of My Love – (Blake Shelton, Colton Swon, Zach Swon)
- Cold Can – (Bobby Pinson, Josh Osborne, Andrew DeRoberts)
- The Keys – (Jay Brunswick, Brock Berryhill, Bobby Pinson)
- Years (feat. John Anderson) – (Pat McLaughlin, John Anderson, David Ferguson, Daniel Auerbach)
Shelton Continues to Shape Country Music On and Off Stage
With 52 million singles sold, 13 million albums, and nearly 11 billion global streams, Shelton has built a legacy marked by both critical acclaim and fan devotion. His resume includes six ACM Awards, ten CMAs, and multiple People’s Choice and CMT Awards.
This year, he launched his Live In Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace and recently wrapped his Friends & Heroes Tour alongside Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, Trace Adkins, and Emily Ann Roberts.
Shelton is also deeply involved with his Ole Red venue brand in partnership with Ryman Hospitality, with locations in Tishomingo, Nashville, Gatlinburg, Orlando, and now a flagship venue in Las Vegas featuring a rooftop stage.
