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On the heels of his latest studio album, Blake Shelton is balancing his professional world with his personal life.
The country superstar released For Recreational Use Only, his first record in four years, earlier this month. The 12-track project includes “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” “Texas,” — Shelton’s 30th No. 1 single — “Hangin’ On” with wife Gwen Stefani, “Let Him In Anyway,” “Heaven Sweet Home” with Craig Morgan, and “Years” with John Anderson, among other highlights.
For Recreational Use Only also arrives as Shelton gets ready to premiere his upcoming talent competition show, The Road. The CBS series will feature up-and-coming artists opening for Keith Urban. It’s set to premiere this fall. Through it all, Shelton balances his ongoing projects with life with his family, including Stefani and her three sons Kingston, 18, Zuma, 16, and Apollo, 11. Shelton recently caught up with Entertainment Tonight’s Cassie DiLaura as he filmed a show for The Road at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee. DiLaura noted that Shelton had “very special guests here who were clapping their hands and enjoying every single second of your performance. Those are your boys. What do they think of the new album?”
“I never put them on the spot (and) ask them what they think about my music because I’m afraid they may hate it,” Shelton replied.
The “Texas” hitmaker met Stefani on the set of The Voice in 2014. they confirmed their relationship the following year, announced their engagement in 2020, and got married in July 2021 in a stunning ceremony on Shelton’s ranch in Tishomingo, Oklahoma. Shelton previously told Entertainment Tonight, “if I could have a repeat of these past 10 years, [that] would be perfect.” He also said in the interview that being a stepdad has been life-changing “in every possible way.” The Oklahoma-born singer-songwriter told PEOPLE in 2022: “Even though I'm a stepparent, I take that job very seriously. …I’ve made plenty of money, but you can't buy time back. I don't want any regrets. …It's time to push some of this [work] stuff out and let more family and personal life in.”