Blake Shelton Says Publish Malone Fueled His Return

Blake Shelton returned to The Tonight Present Starring Jimmy Fallon on Monday (Could 13), delivering a rousing reside efficiency of his present single “Texas,” simply days after releasing his new album For Leisure Use Solely, which arrived Could 9 through BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville.

Accompanied by his longtime band, Shelton carried out the rollicking, guitar-driven observe, which chronicles a free-spirited lady who’s vanished from the narrator’s life, and is, in all probability, someplace in Texas.

The observe is the lead single from For Leisure Use Solely, Shelton’s first full-length studio album in seven years. The 12-song assortment contains collaborations with Gwen Stefani, John Anderson, and Craig Morgan, alongside tracks written by acclaimed songwriters Sarah Buxton, Zach Crowell, Shane McAnally, Greylan James, Pat McLaughlin and Bobby Pinson. The album additionally reunites Shelton with longtime producer Scott Hendricks.

Earlier than his efficiency, Shelton sat down with Jimmy Fallon and revealed that collaborating with Publish Malone helped reignite his artistic spark.

“Publish Malone form of acquired me, a hearth lit below me,” Shelton mentioned, referencing their duet “Pour Me a Drink.” “You recognize, it’s been 4 years since I put out a file… And simply being round him, you’ll be able to’t be round that man with out having a superb time. He’s simply so enthusiastic about all the things.” Shelton added that the expertise pushed him again into the studio.

“I used to be like, ‘Man, what am I doing? I must make a file.’ He had me fired up once more.” As for Malone’s nation pivot, Shelton didn’t maintain again: “Now he’s, like, doing the nation factor. I don’t need him to return to the rest. I simply need him to do nation music.”

Following “Texas,” Shelton launched a brand-new music, “Let Him In Anyway,” a spiritual-minded ballad written by HARDY, Ben Hayslip and Jordan Schmidt. The music paints a redemptive image of a person asking for divine forgiveness on behalf of a buddy who “by no means absolutely went all-in on redemption.”

For Leisure Use Solely marks Shelton’s first album below BMG Nashville, following his departure from Warner Music Nashville after a two-decade run.