Blake Shelton Reveals He’s Been Hard At Work On A New Album: ‘I’m Really Proud of It’

Blake Shelton fans have been patiently waiting for new music, and it looks like the wait is almost over.

Over the past few years, the country star hasn’t released many songs on his own, but he has been featured on several collaborations with artists such as Post Malone and his wife, Gwen Stefani. Then in November he made his grand return with his latest single, “Texas,” which also marked his first release with his brand-new label, BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, following his departure from Warner Music Nashville last year.

In a new interview with Audacy’s Katie Neal, Shelton acknowledged that it’s time he gives his listeners not just another new song, but an entire album. He explained that the gap between his releases was due to the fact that he’s been working behind the scenes writing music and trying to hone in on his sound for this new chapter.

“It’s been a while since I’ve released any music of my own. I’ve had some collaborations and stuff out, but it’s been a minute and I didn’t really know exactly what I wanted to do, what I wanted it to sound like,” Shelton shared.

Since it’s been nearly four years since putting out his last body of work, the Oklahoma native admitted that some songs off this forthcoming album were cut a few years ago and have been waiting for the right time to shine. Much like his previous collections, fans can expect these songs to be “a little big all over the map” as Shelton is a big advocate for the idea that best song wins, whether he’s a writer or not.

“The albums just like most of my albums, it’s a little bit all over the map because I love great songs and that’s always been my focus since I was a kid, since I was 21 years old going in the studio.”

He continued, “I don’t care who writes the songs, I don’t care where they come from. I just want to make the best record I can humanly make, whether I am a writer on it or somebody I don’t know, or somebody that I hate wrote it. If it’s a great song, I don’t care. I want to make the best record that I can possibly make. And so that’s always my goal. Now people may hear my record and go, ‘that’s the best record you can make?’ he said earning a laugh from Katie. “But for me, it’s what I feel like is my best foot forward.”

There’s no doubt that Shelton is feeling confident about this next project in particular because it has been so long since his last record. In that time, he’s been collecting and recording tracks and is finally ready to share what he’s been working on with the world.

“There’s a bunch that won’t even be on the album that no one will probably ever hear and that’s probably a good thing. But I feel like we’re putting the best stuff we have on this record and I’m really proud of it.”

This week, Blake Shelton has especially been keeping his listeners on their toes with a series of cryptic posts on social media. On Tuesday, March 12, he shared a blank orange square with no context. Some fans wondered if he was sharing his pride for the Tennessee Volunteers, as it appears to closely match the team’s color while others wondered if there was a collaboration in the works as they pointed out that it’s nearly identical to the cover of Frank Ocean’s  2012 hit album, Channel Orange.

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He followed up with two more posts, both featuring the same orange background, except this time, they had words. One simply read “FRUO” and the second revealed that the letters stood for “For Recreational Use Only.” It’s safe to say that fans are officially stumped.

“Blake WHAT,” wrote one user.

Another asked, “what does this mean?!? 🧡”

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We will have to keep an eye on the “No Body” singer’s social media platforms to find out what these mysterious posts are insinuating.

While awaiting the answer as well as new music, fans can catch Blake Shelton on the road for his Friends & Heroes Tour. special guests Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, and Trace Adkins plus very special guest Emily Ann Roberts.