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For Recreational Use Only

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For Recreational Use Only
Studio album by
Blake Shelton
ReleasedMay 9, 2025 (2025-05-09)
GenreCountry
LabelWheelhouse Records
Blake Shelton chronology
Body Language
(2021) 		For Recreational Use Only
(2025)
Singles from For Recreational Use Only
  1. "Texas"
    Released: November 15, 2024
  2. "Stay Country or Die Tryin'"
    Released: May 19, 2025

For Recreational Use Only is the thirteenth studio album by American country singer Blake Shelton. It was released on May 9, 2025, through Wheelhouse Records.

Background

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Blake Shelton started writing the album's songs after the success of "Pour Me a Drink", his collaboration with Post Malone; according to Shelton, the success of the collaboration "lit a fire under" Shelton.[1] The album was announced on March 14, 2025.[2]

Singles

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"Texas" was released as the album's lead single on November 15, 2024.[3] It peaked at number 61 on the Billboard Hot 100.[4] "Let Him in Anyway" and "Stay Country or Die Tryin'" were released as promotional singles ahead of the album.[5][6] According to American Songwriter, Gwen Stefani loves the former song.[7] "Stay Country or Die Tryin'" will be released as the album's second single to country radio on May 19, 2025.[8] On May 8, "Hangin' On" was released as a promotional single.[9]

Critical reception

[edit]
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Entertainment Focus[10]
Holler[11]

The American newspaper The Washington Post stated that it is a "fitting declaration for both his latest project and the current state of his career"[12]

Track listing

[edit]
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Stay Country or Die Tryin'"
3:41
2."Texas"
  • Johnny Clawson
  • Josh Dorr
  • Lalo Guzman
  • Kyle Sturrock
2:49
3."Hangin' On" (featuring Gwen Stefani)
3:26
4."Strangers"
3:21
5."Let Him in Anyway"
  • Zach Abend
  • Kyle Clark
  • Hardy
  • Carson Wallace
3:17
6."Heaven Sweet Home" (featuring Craig Morgan)
3:41
7."Life's Been Coming Too Fast"
3:10
8."Don't Mississippi"
3:07
9."All of My Love"
3:39
10."Cold Can"
3:06
11."The Keys"
  • Brock Berryhill
  • Jay Brunswick
  • Pinson
2:51
12."Years" (featuring John Anderson)
3:48

Personnel

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Musicians

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  • Blake Shelton – lead vocals
  • Nir Z – drums (all tracks), tambourine (tracks 1, 8, 9), shaker (5), programming (6, 11), congas (9)
  • Troy Lancaster – electric guitar
  • Tom Bukovac – electric guitar (tracks 1–5, 7–10)
  • Gordon Mote – piano (tracks 1–3, 5, 6, 8, 10, 12), Hammond B3 organ (1, 5–9), electric piano (2, 4, 7, 9), organ (2), synthesizer (4, 12); celeste piano, strings (12)
  • Sam Bergeson – electric guitar, programming (tracks 1–3, 5, 7–10); slide guitar (1, 5, 9), additional guitar (1), synthesizer (2, 3, 7, 9), backing vocals (2, 7), acoustic guitar (2, 9), bass (3); keyboards, percussion (7); lap steel guitar (10)
  • Jimmie Lee Sloas – bass (tracks 1–3, 5, 7–10)
  • Bryan Sutton – acoustic guitar (tracks 1, 3–5, 8–10), mandolin (1, 9), guitar (8)
  • Perry Coleman – backing vocals (tracks 1, 2, 4–8, 10, 11)
  • Justin Niebank – programming (tracks 1, 4–6, 8, 9, 11, 12)
  • Aubrey Haynie – fiddle (tracks 1, 8)
  • Drew Parker – backing vocals (track 1)
  • Ilya Toshinskiy – acoustic guitar (tracks 2, 6, 7, 11)
  • Pat Bergeson – electric guitar, guitar (track 2)
  • Gwen Stefani – lead vocals (track 3)
  • Mark Hill – bass (tracks 4, 6, 11)
  • Paul Franklin – steel guitar (tracks 4, 6, 11)
  • Blair Masters – synthesizer (tracks 6, 11), steel guitar (6), piano (11)
  • Adam Shoenfeld – electric guitar (tracks 6, 11)
  • Kara Britz – backing vocals (tracks 6, 12)
  • Craig Morgan – lead vocals (track 6)
  • Carla Harris – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Chuck Aly – backing vocals (track 7)
  • James Furlough – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Keely Hendricks – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Kenny Sweeney – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Kevin Harris – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Mason Rudolph – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Remy Garrison – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Shannon Finnegan – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Teri Hendricks – backing vocals (track 7)
  • The Never Beens – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Tim Jenkins – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Torey Harding – backing vocals (track 7)
  • William Clay – backing vocals (track 7)
  • Colton Swon – backing vocals (track 9)
  • Zach Swon – backing vocals (track 9)
  • Larry Franklin – fiddle (track 10)
  • Seth Taylor – acoustic guitar (track 12)
  • Blair Whitlow – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Brandon Winbush – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Robert Bailey – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Vicki Hampton – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Wendy Moten – backing vocals (track 12)
  • Mike Brignardello – bass (track 12)
  • John Anderson – lead vocals (track 12)
  • Russ Pahl – steel guitar (track 12)

Technical

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  • Scott Hendricks – production, engineering
  • Andrew Mendelson – mastering
  • Justin Niebank – mixing (tracks 1, 2, 4–6, 8, 9, 11, 12), engineering (all tracks)
  • Jeff Juliano – mixing (track 3)
  • Matt McClure – mixing (tracks 7, 10)
  • Brian David Willis – engineering (tracks 1–4, 6, 7, 9–12), editing (1, 3–5, 7, 9, 10)
  • Sam Bergeson – engineering (tracks 1–5, 7–10), additional mixing (1)
  • Sam Ellis – engineering (track 1)
  • Joey Stanca – engineering (track 2)
  • Sean Badum – engineering (tracks 6, 11), engineering assistance (4)
  • Clarke Schleicher – engineering (tracks 6, 11)
  • Kelsey Porter – engineering (tracks 6, 11)
  • Zach Swon – engineering (track 9)
  • Terry Watson – engineering (track 12), engineering assistance (4)
  • Jacob Spitzer – engineering (track 12)
  • Drew Bollman – additional mixing (tracks 2–12)
  • Shannon Finnegan – production assistance (track 2)
  • Nate Juliano – mixing assistance (track 3)
  • Caroline Whitaker – engineering assistance (track 4)

Charts

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Chart performance for For Recreational Use Only
Chart (2025) Peak
position
Australian Country Albums (ARIA)[13] 33
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[14] 49
UK Country Albums (OCC)[15] 5
UK Independent Albums (OCC)[16] 38

References

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  1. ^ "Blake Shelton Was Burnt Out After The Voice. Then This Unexpected Celebrity 'Lit a Fire Under' Him (Exclusive)". People.com. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  2. ^ Daykin, James (March 14, 2025). "Blake Shelton announces new album 'For Recreational Use Only'". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  3. ^ Kaufman, Gil. "Blake Shelton Prepping 'Texas' Single: 'It Feels Really Important To Me'". billboard.com. Penske Media Corporation. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  4. ^ "Blake Shelton Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  5. ^ Phelan, Chris (April 7, 2025). "Blake Shelton's New Project Is Unlike Anything He's Done: "I Absolutely Was Honored"". NBC. Retrieved May 8, 2025.
  6. ^ Wong, Debby. "Blake Shelton shares 'Stay Country or Die Tryin' from new album". KFDI.com. Country 101.3 KFDI. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  7. ^ Watts, Cindy (March 21, 2025). "Blake Shelton's Deeply Emotional New Song Triggers Label Executive's Heart Attack (Exclusive)". American Songwriter. Retrieved May 9, 2025.
  8. ^ "Country Aircheck Weekly May 5, 2025, Issue 959" (PDF). Country Aircheck. May 5, 2025. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  9. ^ Daykin, James. "Review: Blake Shelton 'For Recreational Use Only' New Album". Entertainment Focus. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  10. ^ Patton, Alli. "Blake Shelton - For Recreational Use Only". Holler Country. Retrieved May 18, 2025.
  11. ^ Sherman, Maria (May 9, 2025). "Music Review: Blake Shelton returns to his roots with 'For Recreational Use Only'". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved May 10, 2025.
  12. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Country Albums Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 19, 2025. Retrieved May 16, 2025.
  13. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  14. ^ "Official Country Artists Albums Chart Top 20". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
  15. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 17, 2025.
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