Blake Shelton is an Oklahoma native, and he’s proud of it. However, there have been a few occasions where Texas influences have found their way into his music, like in his first No. 1 hit, “Austin,” and his current single, “Texas.” While discussing his latest country radio release, Shelton opened up about how George Strait, the legendary Lone Star state native, has been a major influence on his passion for the Texas country music scene and country music in general.

It’s clear that the award-winning singer/songwriter’s clever new tune pays tribute to Strait as it directly mentions the icon as well as several of his biggest hits. But according to Shelton, Strait has been inspiring his music since before he even had a career in the business.

“It’s hard to measure George Strait’s influence on my career because he’s been a constant presence my entire country music fan life, since I can remember. I mean, he’s been on the radio way before I knew I wanted to be a country artist, way after I became a country artist,” Shelton shared in an interview with Country Music Association (CMA). “The amount of artists that he’s influenced, the different generations that he’s influenced and he’s going to continue to influence, I don’t know how you could ever measure that.”

Shelton finds that he’s particularly drawn to Strait’s ability to remain authentic throughout his entire history in country music while also having the confidence to step outside the bounds and create a new sound.

 He continued, “Just love his sound, I love the way that he’s always stayed true to himself, but made new, different sounding records. And I’ve taken note of that as I’ve made records. I’ve always wanted to do that, kind of keep pushing the envelope and moving forward a little bit. Just can’t say enough great things about George.”

With the release of “Texas,” Shelton entered a new musical era, one that allowed him to continue following in the footsteps of the country music great by creating a song that’s unlike anything he’s recorded in his 20+ year career.

“’Texas’…is not like anything else that I’ve ever done, and to the point where when we went into the studio, it’s like I had to keep telling my producer Scott and musicians like, ‘Hey, let’s not go too far down the road with this away from who I am, you know? Let’s try to find some middle ground here.’ And that’s where you hear like that signature steel guitar intro and all that stuff. We wanted to be sure that it was as country as it could be while being a step further away than people are used to hearing from me.”

His Oklahoma roots with a tinge of that Texas spirit will come alive on the road this year as Blake Shelton prepares for a wide array of shows in 2025. First, he will head to The Colosseum at Caesars Palace for his “Live In Las Vegas” Residency. These shows, which are also unlike anything he’s done before, will take place on February 5, 7, 8, 12, 14, and 15.

“I’m always excited to get out on the road because I don’t do it that often. So when I do have a show coming up or a tour, it’s like, man, I’m fired up. My battery’s charged. I’m ready to go,” he shared with enthusiasm. “This year we’re starting with a Vegas residency, which is only two weekends, but it’s six shows. It’s the most I’ve ever done in one place, ever. So I’m anxious to see how that feels and if it’s something that maybe I want to do again in the future or not, I don’t know.”

Then in February, Shelton will break away from his residency to launch his highly anticipated Friends And Heroes Tour. This trek starts February 27 in Lexington, KY, and features Craig Morgan, Deana Carter, Trace Adkins and Emily Ann Roberts on select dates. Shelton noted that this run is “going to be a blast” and he “can’t wait to get out there and start that thing.”

The post Blake Shelton Reflects On George Strait’s Longtime Influence On His Career appeared first on Country Now.