The song in question is “Let Him In Anyway,” which was already released in mid-March ahead of Shelton’s May 9 album, For Recreational Use Only. It’s a triumphant ballad that epitomizes the star in the best way. And if the rest of Shelton’s upcoming album sounds this good, he’ll have more CMA Awards coming his way for sure!

In an April 6 video message on YouTube, the most successful Coach in The Voice’s history revealed just how proud he was to include the song on the album.

“‘Let Him In Anyway’ is one of the more powerful lyrics and just overall pieces of music that I’ve ever gotten a chance to work on,” he explained.

Acclaimed country songwriter HARDY co-wrote the track alongside Shelton, and the result is a stunning song about mourning the loss of a close friend and turning to God for guidance and help.

While it’s not wholly unusual for artists to hype up individual songs ahead of an album’s release, in Shelton’s case, “Let Him In Anyway” touched his heart in a way not many of his ever had. (And, as usual, Shelton’s vocals are stunning.)

“I’ve just never heard a song quite like it,” Shelton confessed. “I don’t think this song has ever been written before or anything like it. Whenever I heard it and got a chance to record it, I absolutely was honored and I’m really proud of the record that we made on it.”

Lyrics like, Hey, God / I know You know what I’m ’bout to pray, God / I just had to suck it up and say goodbye to my best friend And I don’t ever wanna never see him again are so powerful and have already resonated with many people — including one fan who sang the song’s praises in Shelton’s comment section:

“It’s the best song you have right now, for me at least, it’s almost 3 years that my best friend the love of my life my husband is gone, if I could have one more conversation, he took care of me so well for over 30 years, I truly hope there is a place I can meet him again… This song is the greatest gift you can give anyone that is feeling like I do,” they wrote.

How did Blake Shelton launch his performing career?

Blake Shelton on stage at the Academy Of Country Music Awards

Believe it or not, Shelton honed his talents by performing on the Oklahoma beauty pageant circuit as a child — and no, that’s not a typo!

Shelton’s mother got the idea of including her son in the competition circuit after taking his older sister, Endy, to events around their hometown of Ada, Oklahoma. In a throwback 2001 interview with Access Hollywood, Shelton spilled the beans about the beginning of his career — and revealed it was pretty embarrassing for him.

“It was very humiliating for me,” he admitted. “Because it was like me, I was a 7-year-old boy, with 30 or 40 little girls. I did okay in the talent portion of the pageant, but I told mom, if that’s what I have to do to sing, I don’t want to sing anymore. My beauty pageant days were short-lived.”