Blake Shelton Says Post Malone Inspired Him to Start Making Music Again
In a new interview, Shelton credits Posty for getting him back in the studio.
Blake Shelton, Post Malone; Photo Courtesy Post Malone, Instagram
Blake Shelton credits his duet partner, Post Malone for inspiring him to get back in the studio to make new music.
The country superstar sat down with Lon Helton on Country Countdown USA this week to give an update on life after The Voice and reflect on his latest hit with Post Malone. Helton kicked the conversation off by asking Shelton “What’s new?”
Shelton shared, “There’s probably been a million things. I retired from The Voice. Post Malone asked me to sing a duet with him, which came out of left field. That’s probably the reason I got back in the studio to make new music of my own.”
Since leaving The Voice, Shelton acknowledges he hasn’t “been doing too much,” but explains that was “the point” of his decision to step back.
“I did The Voice for 12 years, it took over my life,” he said. “The whole idea was to get some life in before it’s too late. We have three kids, and I try to spend time with them. I’ve had a couple years since I retired from The Voice, and it still doesn’t feel that long.”
During his downtime, Shelton managed to score another No.1 hit as “Pour Me A Drink” with Posty reached the top of the charts this summer. When reflecting on his friendship with the genre-bending star, Shelton recalled meeting him at an Elvis tribute show in 2018.
“Post was a new artist at the time. I was just blown away by him,” he explained. “I didn’t see him again until the Super Bowl this year, and he told me he was working on a country album. He reached out and asked me to sing on his album, and it ended up being a big hit for both of us.”
“Pour Me A Drink” is featured on Post Malone’s GRAMMY-nominated F-1 Trillion album. The artists brought the song to life in a music video and on the stage at CMA Fest in Nashville. Shelton says the entire experience was “overwhelming.”
“We filmed the video the day before that. We’d never been in front of a crowd performing it. It was a hell of a way to introduce a song and perform it for the first time,” he pointed out.
Now inspired by Posty to record new music, Shelton is hard at work on his first release through his new label deal with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. The Grand Ole Opry member shocked fans with the news of his new label deal in September. This came after his departure from his longtime label, Warner Music Nashville.
In addition to working on new music, Shelton is preparing for his upcoming Las Vegas residency. The run of shows will kick off in early February at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
“We’ve been talking about a Vegas residency for a few years, and all the pieces just came together for a run next year,” Shelton previously shared in a statement. “The Colosseum is such an iconic venue, and I’m excited to bring some honky-tonk neon to the Palace.”
More info about Blake Shelton in Las Vegas can be found HERE.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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