Blake Shelton Unveils For Recreational Use Only, His First Solo Album in Nearly Four Years
By Website Content Manager
To mark the announcement, Blake Shelton also released a brand-new track titled Let Him In Anyway.
Blake Shelton is making his return nearly four years after his last studio album with For Recreational Use Only, his highly anticipated debut under BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville, set to drop on May 9.
In recent days, Blake Shelton has sparked excitement among fans with a series of mysterious social media posts. On Tuesday, March 12, the Grand Ole Opry member shared a blank orange square without any explanation. While some fans speculated that Shelton was showing his support for the Tennessee Volunteers, given the color’s similarity to the team’s signature hue, others suspected a possible collaboration — noting the resemblance to the cover of Frank Ocean’s 2012 album, Channel Orange.
Shelton continued to tease fans with two more posts featuring the same orange background. One displayed the letters “FRUO”, while the second revealed that the acronym stood for “For Recreational Use Only.” While the cryptic clues initially left fans puzzled, it’s now clear that they were all part of the buildup to the announcement of his upcoming album.
The upcoming album promises to be a deeply personal collection of 12 tracks that capture life’s highs and lows through authentic storytelling, heartfelt emotion, and memorable melodies that fans have come to love from Blake Shelton.
The project also features exciting collaborations with some familiar names, including his wife and pop superstar Gwen Stefani, country legend John Anderson, and his longtime friend and tourmate Craig Morgan.
“It’s been a long time since we had a new album out, and I want to thank the songwriters and musicians who helped bring this record to life,” Shelton shared. “Scott [Hendricks] and I have been working on this music for years, and I’m beyond excited to finally share it with the fans.”
Blake Shelton’s Top 10 hit single Texas has already made waves, earning praise from both fans and country radio as a strong introduction to his new album.
He’s now offering another glimpse into the project with today’s release of Let Him In Anyway, a heartfelt ballad written by Carson Wallace, Kyle Clark, HARDY, and Zach Abend.
Set against emotional instrumentals and powerful lyrics, Shelton’s signature baritone tells the story of a man pleading with the man upstairs to welcome his lost friend with open arms — despite his friend not having always lived up to his faith.
“Let Him In Anyway is one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever had the chance to record,” Shelton shared. “HARDY is a co-writer and a friend, and I’ve never heard a song like this before. When I first listened to it, I knew it was something special. It’s an honor to bring it to life, and I’m incredibly proud of the record we made.”