Blake Shelton took the ACM stage like a cowboy carrying ghosts, and when the opening chords of “Texas” hit the air, Frisco froze — not in silence, but in awe. This wasn’t just his No. 1 hit being replayed; it was a Southern sermon, a love letter, and a thunderstorm rolled into one man and a guitar. No pyrotechnics, no gimmicks — just Blake, staring out like he saw the whole state in the distance, whispering truths that only music can speak. The room didn’t breathe as he sang; they remembered. Every word landed like a memory, every note hit like a bullet dipped in honey. He didn’t perform — he testified, as if to say: “I never left Texas. I just carried it with me.” And when the final note fell, the applause wasn’t noise — it was gratitude. Blake Shelton gave us a song, but what we heard… was a moment that will never leave us.

Having won numerous awards throughout his career, Blake Shelton entered the ACM Awards without a single nomination. With the country singer not releasing a new album since Body Language in 2021, Shelton didn’t need nominations or accolades to enjoy his time.

Thrilled about the new wave of artists taking over the genre, Shelton might find himself with a few nominations with his upcoming album, For Recreational Use Only. Set to release on May 9th, Shelton commanded the stage at the ACM Awards in Frisco, Texas, showcasing why he is a top name in country music.

Even before the lights went out at the ACM Awards, the production promoted a plethora of hit performances from stars like Eric Church, Jelly Roll, Chris Stapleton, Alan Jackson, Reba McEntire, and even Lainey Wilson.

Again, just a teaser of the night, the awards seemed more like a concert than an award show. And when it came time for Shelton to stand under the spotlight, he decided to perform his 30th No. 1 hit “Texas.”

Having spent decades recording and touring, Shelton decided to step away from the spotlight to spend more time at home with his wife, Gwen Stefani, and their children. While enjoying that time away, he never forgot how to captivate an audience. And for fans at home, they loved every second of “Texas.”

Gwen Stefani Teamed Up With Blake Shelton For “Hangin’ On”

As for his upcoming album, For Recreational Use Only, Shelton called on the help of a few stars like Craig Morgan to bring the album to life. He even brought Stefani into the studio to sing their new duet “Hangin’ On.” Discussing how the two worked on the song, the country singer admitted, “We live together, so we walk around the house singing these songs all the time and we have months to talk about, ‘Hey, maybe you jump on that part. ‘By the time we get to the studio, we’re normally really prepared.”

Although loving what they produced with “Hangin’ On”, Shelton already looked forward to the summer and getting back to the family lifestyle. With summer just around the corner, he insisted, “I’m looking forward to the kids being out of school. Gwen and I pretty much have our summers wide open. We both have a few shows here and there, but nothing that’s tying us down to keep us from going and doing something fun. We don’t have any plans — which is our favorite plan.”