Blake Shelton Drives to ACM Awards for Heartfelt “Texas” Performance, Celebrates 30th No. 1 Hit and Album Reveal
Blake Shelton has officially confirmed that he’ll be performing his latest hit, “Texas,” during the 2025 ACM Awards on Thursday, May 8. In a chat with Country Now ahead of the show, Shelton revealed that he had just arrived in Texas—after personally driving his truck all the way from his Oklahoma home. “There’s no secret here, and since I’m not being paid to keep quiet, I can say it like it is,” he said with a laugh. “I jumped in my truck, drove through a storm, and the moment I crossed into Texas, it really hit me—this is special. I’m literally heading to Texas to perform ‘Texas’ at the ACMs. That’s pretty wild.”
This energetic track has quickly struck a chord with fans, earning Shelton his 30th career No. 1 hit. Written by Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock, Josh Dorr, and Lalo Guzman, the song will also serve as the lead single from Shelton’s forthcoming album, For Recreational Use Only, which is slated for release the day after the awards show—on Friday, May 9.
Comparing “Texas” To The Major Impact Of Hit, “God’s Country”
“Texas” marks Blake Shelton’s first release with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville and Wheelhouse Records, and it’s already making waves in a way that’s reminiscent of the impact “God’s Country” had years ago—another milestone in his career.
“Ken mentioned it’s been about five years since I had a No. 1,” Shelton reflected. “So, yeah, in a lot of ways, this feels like my second ‘God’s Country.’ I’d started to wonder if maybe I had already hit my last big moment.”
Thankfully, that moment never came. Shelton is fully leaning into his roots with this new chapter, promising that the upcoming album will keep digging into that raw, honest country sound. One of the next tracks fans can look forward to is “Stay Country Or Die Tryin.’”
Shelton Joins A Stacked Lineup Of Performers
This year’s ACM Awards feature an all-star roster, and Blake Shelton is in good company. Artists like Kelsea Ballerini, Eric Church, Alan Jackson, Miranda Lambert, Ella Langley, Megan Moroney, Chris Stapleton, Zach Top, and Lainey Wilson are all scheduled to light up the stage.
The show’s opening will be a heartfelt nod to decades of ACM Song of the Year winners. Fans can expect performances from legends including Clint Black, Dan + Shay, Wynonna Judd, Reba McEntire, LeAnn Rimes, and Sugarland.
There’ll also be buzzworthy collaborations throughout the night—like the Backstreet Boys joining Rascal Flatts, Jelly Roll teaming up with Shaboozey, and a powerhouse set from Brooks & Dunn alongside Cody Johnson.
How To Watch 2025 ACM Awards
Veteran entertainer Reba McEntire returns once again to host the ACM Awards, marking her 18th time at the helm—a record in the show’s history. Her return ensures the night will have that classic charm only she can deliver.
Set your reminders—this year’s 60th ACM Awards will stream live globally on Thursday, May 8, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. CT / 5 p.m. PT. You can catch all the action on Prime Video and the Amazon Music channel on Twitch, accessible to fans in over 240 countries and territories.
