Blake Shelton Stuns Fans with Surprise Announcement on ‘The Voice’ Finale—Here’s What He Revealed

Country superstar Blake Shelton is closing out June with a one-two punch of fresh music and high-profile TV time that has his fans—and search engines—buzzing. New video for “Stay Country Or Die Tryin’” premieres today Shelton’s second single from his 2025 album “For Recreational Use Only” gets its official video at 1 p.m. ET on Friday, June 27. Shot on a rustic Oklahoma farm, the clip time-travels through seven generations of a dirt-road family to underscore the song’s message of staying true to your roots. Shelton teased the release on Instagram with behind-the-scenes photos and the promise, “Tomorrow. ‘Stay Country Or Die Tryin’’ Official Video”. Early reactions range from “So excited!” to “Vintage Blake,” hinting at another viral hit. CMA Fest TV special features Shelton’s “secret weapon” Just hours before the video drop, ABC’s three-hour CMA Fest special (8 p.m. ET Thursday, streaming on Hulu Friday) spotlights Shelton’s return to Nissan Stadium earlier this month. He surprised the Nashville crowd by bringing longtime friend Trace Adkins onstage for a 20th-anniversary rendition of “Honky Tonk Badonkadonk,” plus collaborations on “Hell Right” and their newly re-recorded 2025 version of “Hillbilly Bone.” Shelton called Adkins his “secret weapon” and “brother” in a backstage interview. Why “Stay Country” matters in 2025 The single follows Shelton’s chart-topping comeback track “Texas” and cements his post-Voice focus on recording and touring. Lyrically, it doubles down on the authenticity theme that has defined his 30-No.-1 career, making it catnip for country radio programmers looking for summertime sing-alongs. Fan engagement driving the trend Within minutes of Shelton’s teaser, the #StayCountry hashtag trended across X and TikTok. Fans swapped theories about Easter eggs in the quick-cut farmhouse transformation and compared the imagery to earlier era-defining videos like “Austin” and “God’s Country.” Social chatter is expected to spike again during the CMA Fest broadcast, where viewers can Shazam the performance for a direct link to stream the single. Upcoming tour boosts SEO juice Shelton’s summer itinerary keeps him in front of live audiences and search traffic: June 27 Salinas, CA (California Rodeo), July 12 Fort Loramie, OH (Country Concert), and August 9 Albuquerque, NM (ABQ Smoke Show). Each stop is already trending locally for ticket searches, reinforcing momentum around the new video and ABC special. How to watch and listen • “Stay Country Or Die Tryin’” video: premieres June 27, 1 p.m. ET on YouTube and Shelton’s socials. • CMA Fest TV special: Thursday, June 26, 8 p.m. ET on ABC; available June 27 on Hulu. • “For Recreational Use Only”: streaming now on all platforms. With a must-see video debut, a prime-time television blast, and a summer tour that brings the hits coast to coast, Blake Shelton is ensuring that “country” and “2025” remain a perfect rhyme—and a perfect search query.