Blake Shelton returns stronger than ever. Credit to BBR Music Group.
Los Angeles, California (June 27, 2025)- Country music icon Blake Shelton has released the official music video for his latest single, “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” premiering today on CMT with a special simultaneous debut on the Times Square Paramount Billboard in New York City at noon ET. The video will have an encore showing at 5 p.m. ET and is available now for streaming.
Directed by Shelton’s longtime creative team Adam Rothlein and Jennifer Ansell of Tiny Terror Productions, the cinematic video blends storytelling and technology, using cutting-edge AI effects to trace the life of a single family home across seven generations. The home becomes more than a setting—it’s the central character in a story of love, loss, resilience, and the deep roots of rural tradition. As the camera moves through time, viewers witness the house evolve from its modest construction to modern-day life, carrying the spirit of those who lived, worked, and held onto it.
“The home in the video isn’t just a backdrop,” Shelton explains. “It’s a symbol of the values passed down through generations—faith, family, hard work, and a whole lot of country pride. It’s about more than where you live—it’s how you live.”
“Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” released on Wheelhouse Records (BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville), is the follow-up to Shelton’s 30th career No. 1 single, “Texas.” The track is a gritty, high-octane anthem written by Drew Parker, Graham Barham, Sam Ellis, and Beau Bailey, celebrating the rural lifestyle and the fierce pride that fuels small-town America. With its thunderous rhythm and unshakable chorus, it has quickly become a fan-favorite in Shelton’s live sets.
“When I heard ‘Stay Country or Die Tryin’,’ it took me back to the first time I heard ‘Ol’ Red’ or ‘God’s Country,’” Shelton said. “It’s full of energy and packed with those sayings and moments that feel like home to me. I love singing this one live—it’s a blast.”
The song is featured on Shelton’s newly released album, For Recreational Use Only, which showcases a mix of hard-charging anthems and heartfelt ballads that tap into every corner of his country roots. Shelton recently performed “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” during his headlining set at Nissan Stadium for CMA Fest 2025, an event broadcast nationally as part of the primetime ABC special “CMA Fest presented by SoFi,” hosted by Cody Johnson and Ashley McBryde. The special aired Thursday, June 26 and is now streaming on Hulu.
With For Recreational Use Only now available on all digital platforms and “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” climbing the charts, Shelton continues to prove why he remains one of the most vital voices in modern country music—rooted in tradition, driven by authenticity, and always staying country, no matter what.
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