Blake Shelton took the stage with “Stay Country Or Die Tryin’” on Monday evening (May 26) at the 2025 American Music Awards in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The country superstar delivered an energetic live performance of the anthem that kicks off his new 12-track record, For Recreational Use Only. Songwriters Drew Parker, Graham Barham, Sam Ellis and Beau Bailey wrote “Stay Country Or Die Tryin,’” and Shelton said when he first heard it, the song reminded him of some of the most iconic hits of his career.

“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 in a statement when the song released last month. “It’s got so much energy and is full of those little catchphrases and things we say out in the country. I absolutely fell in love with it. I’m proud of this recording—and I love singing it live even more. Hopefully, you’ll come catch a show and sing it with us.”

For Recreational Use Only made its debut earlier this month. The album also includes “Texas” — Shelton’s latest No. 1 single with a nod to music legend George Strait — “Let Him In Anyway,” “Heaven Sweet Home” with Craig Morgan, “Years” with John Anderson, and “Hangin’ On,” with Shelton’s wife, fellow singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani. The married duo teamed up on a breakup duet for their latest collaboration (they’ve previously released “Happy Anywhere,” “Nobody But You” and more).

“I can’t believe it’s been four years since we released an album, and I’m excited to get the whole record out there,” Shelton said in a statement when his record released. “I’ve always been someone who wants to collect great songs but sometimes the hardest thing to do is to find something that hasn’t been said or written before or a melody that we haven't heard. I’m always on the search for that. I look back over the years, and I’m just proud because some of those songs don’t sound like anything else. And I think we did it again with this album.”

Watch Shelton's performance here:

Dave Taft