'God's Country': The Story Behind Blake Shelton's Grittiest Hit

Blake Shelton's 2019 hit "God's Country" celebrates rural lifestyles with a Southern rock edge. Like Shelton's 2018 single "I Lived It," the lyrical content of "God's Country" centers on work, faith and family in a way that upholds a tradition of country songs that tell stories that are relatable for everyday people.

In a press release, Shelton shared that though the song reminds him of his home state, its message is for anyone.

"No matter where you are from, or where you're standing, it is my belief that you're standing in God's Country," Shelton explained. "For me it's about being from Oklahoma -- where I was born, raised and still live today."

Rising country star Michael Hardy co-wrote "God's Country" with regular collaborators Devin Dawson and Jordan Schmidt.

Since its release, the partial title track of Shelton's Fully Loaded: God's Country album (Warner Music Nashville) has won ACM and CMA awards for Single of the Year and earned the artist his ninth career Grammy nomination (Best Country Solo Performance).

It topped Billboard's Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay charts. It also reached the 17th spot on two all-genre polls: the Billboard Hot 100 and Rolling Stone's Top 100.

Digital sales and streaming numbers have netted the Scott Hendricks-produced song quadruple platinum certification.

Shelton has since released his 12th studio album, Body Language, while maintaining his coaching gig on The Voice. In 2022, he unveiled new song "No Body" along with a music video that celebrates '90s country line dancing and his hat act-era mullet.

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This story originally ran on March 29, 2019.

'God's Country' Lyrics:

Right outside of this one church town
There's a gold dirt road to a whole lotta nothin'
Got a deed to the land but it ain't my ground
This is God's country

We pray for rain and thank Him when it's falling
'Cause it brings the grain and a little bit of money
We put it back in the plate, I guess that's why they call it
God's country

I saw the light in a sunrise
Sittin' back in the 40 on the muddy riverside
Getting baptized in holy water and 'shine
with the dogs runnin'
Saved by the sound, I've been found
Dixie whistle in the wind, that'll get you Heaven bound
The devil went down to Georgia but he didn't stick around
This is God's country

We turn the dirt and work until the week's done
We take a break and break bread on Sunday
Then do it all again 'cause we're proud to be
from God's Country

I saw the light in a sunrise
Sittin' back in a 40 on the muddy river side
Gettin' baptized in holy water and shine with the dogs runnin'
Saved by the sound I've been found
Dixie whistle in the wind, that'll get you Heaven bound
The devil went down to Georgia but he didn't stick around
This is God's country

I don't care what my headstone reads
Or what kind of pine wood box I end up in
When it's my time lay me 6 feet deep in
God's country

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