20 Great Blake Shelton Songs, From the Lighthearted to the Sentimental

Blake Shelton remains one of the best song interpreters in modern country music. Like his peers Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley and ex-wife Miranda Lambert, Shelton's sound and image bridge the narrow gap between the pop-friendly "hat acts" of the 1990s and our current situation, making his songs appeal to different generations of country music fans. He's also incredibly fun to watch as a coach on The Voice or during his hilarious appearances on talk shows because of the same aw-shucks personality that shines through in several of the songs listed below -- though for the most part, our picks are more sentimental than slapstick.

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Despite all of this, Shelton gets dismissed by some as being "too pop." However, with the right material, he becomes the sort of emotive storyteller that's long captured country fans' imaginations. In fact, with a rougher image -- which really would be phony -- and a more consistent "Kiss My Country Ass" attitude, he might be as well-received as Eric Church and others revered by radio-friendly traditionalists.

Consider the following 20-song playlist, whether you're a diehard member of Team Blake or someone who needs to be sold on his catalog's undeniable creative and lyrical depth.

20. "Boys 'Round Here" (Feat. Pistol Annies and Friends) (2013)

Written by Rhett Akins, Dallas Davidson and Craig Wiseman, "Boys 'Round Here" is a prime example of Shelton sprinkling his sense of humor into his discography. The Pistol Annies collaboration is playful on purpose, with ample jokes about Southwestern lifestyles. It's goofy, but there's always been room for tomfoolery in country music. For similar silliness, revisit Shelton's redneck rap track "Money." Listen here.

19. "Bible Verses" (2021)

One of Shelton's more religious selections, "Bible Verses" is a modern country Pilgrim's Progress. It's about a Saturday sinner and Sunday saint not measuring up to the Good Book's commandments and parables. Still, our main character knows that the Christian God's always there -- and patient with those seeking a level of faith where it'll finally feel like "those apostles are giving me the Gospel/ and not the third degree." Listen here.

18. "Some Beach" (2004)

Fans of modern country love the beach. Blame it on Jimmy Buffett if you must, but the Salt Life has done wonders for the careers of more than just Kenny Chesney. Shelton furthers tropical escapism for weekend warriors wanting more than a backyard barbecue. For more Myrtle Beach vibes, press play on "Makin' It Up as You Go." Listen to "Some Beach" here.

17. "Hillbilly Bone" (Feat. Trace Adkins) (2009)

With the help of baritone-voiced Trace Adkins, Shelton harnessed the bravado and excitement of Montgomery Gentry. It covers the "bro-country" checklist in a way that's charmingly tongue-in-cheek-- a self-awareness that's lacking from many comparable hits by the usual suspects. And as a great superstar collaboration should, it evokes images of two friends cutting up in the studio until it's time to be all business. Listen here.

16. "Goodbye Time" (2005)

As a song interpreter, Shelton brought his own vocal touch to this song, originally recorded by his pop-accessible country forefather, Conway Twitty-- who's name-dropped above in "Hillbilly Bone." It serves as a reminder that Shelton does indeed honor Nashville legends, even when he plays up modern pop sensibilities. Listen here.

15. "She Wouldn't Be Gone" (2008)

Shelton mastered blending Oklahoma country tradition with the modern, stadium-ready formula in the late aughts. "She Wouldn't Be Gone" stands as a textbook example of this by crossing the streams between timeless tales of heartbreak and the revved-up stompers of Garth Brooks, Jason Aldean and countless others. Listen here.

14. "Corn" (2021)

Shelton's grown more sentimental as an artist as he's settled into life as a ranch-dwelling spouse and step-parent. More on that when we get to instant classic "I Lived It." Another solid example wasn't a single. It's a deep cut from 2021's Body Language that frankly outshines the better-known George Michael homage "Minimum Wage." Listen here.

13. "The More I Drink" (2007)

This might be the most Oklahoman-or-Texan-turned-Nashvillain country radio hit imaginable-- meaning it's easy to imagine Toby Keith or Ronnie Dunn belting it out with similar conviction. It didn't light up the charts in its time, stalling at No. 19. Yet it stands the test of time while inching its way to gold certification. Listen here.

12. "God Gave Me You" (2011)

So many great country music talents, from Red Foley to Carrie Underwood, injected personal faith into some of their best material. Shelton's presumed testimony adds credibility and fire to this and such spiritual tunes as "South of Heaven" and "Savior's Shadow." "God Gave Me You" was written and first recorded by Christian artist Dave Barnes. Listen here.

11. "The Baby" (2002)

This gut-wrenching song about losing a loved one would be adored by Shelton's harshest detractors if Vince Gill had recorded it years prior. That said, Shelton might be the only one other than Gill in contemporary country who could do this heartbreaking song justice. (And on that note, a Shelton-Gill duet would be quite the 30th anniversary celebration for this one.) Listen here.

10. "Sangria" (2015)

As Dan + Shay did with "Tequila," Shelton dodged drinking song cliches. Instead of lazily singing about scoping out romantic prospects while at the bar with his buddies, Shelton gets sensual with wordplay on par with some of Ashley McBryde's most biting double entendres. Listen here.

9. "Nobody But You" (Feat. Gwen Stefani) (2020)

Shelton and his spouse Gwen Stefani shattered notions that a pop-country superstar was a weird fit, creatively and otherwise, alongside a ska-punk-turned-pop icon with this, the first of consecutive platinum-selling country radio No. 1. How can anyone give this one a spin and not believe that both have found a match made in heaven? Listen here.

8. "Lonely Tonight" (Feat. Ashley Monroe) (2014)

Shelton and Pistol Annies member Ashley Monroe retell the old story of a debatable yet irresistible one-night-stand. Both talented vocalists bring out each others' best with a duet that's pop enough for Shelton's fans and traditional enough for Monroe's. Listen here.

7. "Happy Anywhere" (Feat. Gwen Stefani) (2020)

Shelton's romance with Stefani has upped his love song game, for sure. They've made beautiful music together as duet partners, as well, from "A Guy With a Girl" to this highlight of 2021 album Body Language. Outside of the context of celebrity interest stories, it a catchy, fun country love song that would've worked back when Dottie West and Kenny Rogers reigned over the charts. Listen here.

6. "Home" (2008)

Three years after co-writer Michael Buble made "Home" into an Adult Contemporary hit, Shelton asked his Canadian pal for a favor. Shelton added a hint of twang to the ballad and scored his own No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, ending a four-year cold streak when it came to chart-toppers. Listen here.

5. "I Lived It" (2018)

Fair complaints that country radio's top stars fall back way too often on party songs make sweet, sentimental tunes that sneak onto playlists stand out even more. For examples, revisit Luke Bryan's "Build Me a Daddy" or this. Both represent the down-home nostalgia at the roots of country storytelling. Plus, Shelton's the right country-boy-made-good tour guide for this trek through simpler times. Listen here.

4. "Ol' Red" (2002)

Sometimes, a good song needs the right singer (see also the histories of "The Gambler" and "Song of the South"). Shelton deserves a little old school cred for making a prison and dog-centric hit out of something the great George Jones and Kenny Rogers could only turn into album filler. It became the namesake of Shelton's Ole Red chain of bars. Listen here.

3. "God's Country" (2019)

One of Shelton's more recent hits can best be described as a country-rock anthem at its finest.

As soon as Shelton heard songwriters Devin Dawson, Jordan Schmidt and Hardy's co-write, he stopped in his tracks and knew he had to record it. Everything about the song -- from its message to its tempo -- is perfect for Shelton's booming vocals. It earned Shelton a No. 1 country single as well as Single of the Year at the 2019 CMA and ACM Awards. Plus, the music video offers a surreal look at the singer's Oklahoma ranch. Listen here.

2. "Honey Bee" (2011)

This sweet, sentimental Rhett Atkins and Ben Hayslip co-write exemplifies pop-friendly country that, despite what naysayers claim, continues the lineage of classic story-songs. Indeed, it's whimsical in a way that could've worked for Roger Miller or the first artist to record "Tequila Shelia," Bobby Bare. Yet that sense of levity doesn't interfere with this being a wedding playlist fixture. Listen here.

1. "Austin" (2001)

Shelton's early years, back when he was a wide-eyed Oklahoma native navigating a changing country music landscape, gave fans this Billboard chart-topping tale of a demoralizing round of phone tag. The talk of old school answering machines and the touch-tone phone in the music video date this one a little, but it remains the singer's finest recording. This stand-out was from Shelton's debut album, which also gave us "All Over Me." And since his debut single remains his best song, his buddies surely tease him that there was nowhere to go but down (though based on the rest of this list, Shelton still rides high as a country artist). Listen here.

This story was first published in 2018.

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