Blake Shelton has another hit at radio. The 48-year-old has a Top 10 hit with "Texas," the debut single from his still-untitled next album. Shelton admits he is thrilled, and a bit surprised, to be back at the radio, sharing space with artists a generation younger than him.
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"How lucky am I to still be 25 years into this ... to still have a song on the radio, at any capacity, much less moving the way this one has," Shelton reflects on Audacy's Totally Private. "This one has really taken on a life of its own. It's exciting to know that, right when you think, 'All right, I guess that was it,' then something like this happens, and you're still in there with these kids coming up, trying to keep my head above water."
Shelton is a fan of the younger artists, even if he isn't sure of most of their names.
"There's so much incredible talent, I don't even know," Shelton praises. "I look at a chart now, and I swear, I'm not kidding when I say I know about maybe 40 percent of the artists that are on a chart any given day. I'm just like, 'Google, who the hell is that? My God, who is that?' And it is just crazy to try to keep up with it. But to know that I have been able to, at least with this record, it's pretty exciting for me."
Blake Shelton's Love of Traditional Country Music
Shelton may not know most of today's reigning hitmakers, but he knows country music. The Grand Ole Opry member keeps a regular playlist of some of his favorite artists, even if most people have forgotten who they are.
"I have a playlist on my phone that I'm curating," Shelton reveals. "I call it Lost Country, and it's like hits that were big hits in the '90s and '80s that, because maybe the artist didn't go on to be a superstar, their music kind of gets lost. Like Mike Reid, some of those guys that had a couple of big hits, but that was it."
Shelton also reveals to Audacy that his new album is finished and in the hands of his new record label.
"For me, it's what I feel like is my best foot forward," Shelton reveals. "And I'm really excited about this particular project, because it's been so long. I've been collecting songs and recording them ... I feel like we're putting the best stuff we have on this record."
Shelton is currently headlining his Friends and Heroes Tour. He is joined on tour by Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Emily Ann Roberts.
