Music Notes: Blake Shelton, Dustin Lynch, the Latest Singing Competition Show & MORE
Country Music & Entertainment News From Hook & Barrel
Blake Shelton Releases New Single, “Texas”
Country star Blake Shelton is set to release his latest single “Texas” on Friday, November 15. The song, with a nod to George Strait who knows where all the exes go, captures the lost love theme.
“The thing that struck me about ‘Texas’ immediately was how different it sounded for me, and I’m always looking to push myself,” said Shelton. “I think there’s something really special about this record and it feels important to me.”
The single, Shelton’s debut for BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville and Wheelhouse records, was written by Johnny Clawson, Kyle Sturrock, Josh Dorr, and Lalo Guzman and produced by his longtime producer, Scott Hendricks. It adds to the star’s catalog, featuring 29 number 1 hits.
“This is the perfect opportunity to come back with something so different, and it easily felt like it should be the first single,” said Shelton. “It’s connected with what I’ve done but moves forward at the same time, and it’s the perfect start to the next chapter of my career.”
Listen to “Texas” and keep up with Blake Shelton at his website.
Dustin Lynch Celebrates 10 Number 1 Hits on Nashville Rooftops
Dustin Lynch celebrated 10 number 1 singles by screaming it from the downtown Nashville rooftops. His milestone party, hosted at Skydeck on Broadway, was open to the public and offered friends, family, and fans a toast to multi-platinum Lynch.
Lynch took to the stage for a special 11-song set, including his latest, “Chevrolet” ft. Jelly Roll. During the set, he was surprised with a stage plaque recognizing his RIAA 2X Platinum certification. The plaque is the third in the singer-songwriter’s Platinum collection.
The artist also recently crossed a bucket list item off with his headline show “Dustin Lynch—Live at Red Rocks Amphitheatre” in Morrison, CO.
The country star also was featured on the cover of Hook & Barrel Magazine back in July 2020, where we got an exclusive on what makes this “small-town boy” tick. More on that here.
Just Announced: Chase Matthew Spring 2025 World Tour
Coming off the 2024 schedule where Chase Matthew performed for more than 1 million of his fans, he’s planning for an even bigger 2025.
The tour kicks off on December 14 in Ridgefield, WA, with plans for 18 headline shows spanning multiple continents, with stops in Milwaukee, Forth Worth, and Baton Rouge. Matthew plans to also make a stop in his Nashville hometown for a bucket list appearance at the Ryman Auditorium in February.
Get in on the ticket pre-sale and plan to see Chase Matthew in 2025.
Singing Competition Show “The Road” Coming To CBS TV Fall 2025
A new singing competition is coming to your TV lineup in the fall of 2025. “The Road” (working title) has been ordered by CBS from executive producers Blake Shelton, Taylor Sheridan, Lee Metzger, and David Glasser.
The “docu-follow” format will follow a yet-to-be-announced headlining superstar on a journey to discover the next big artist. Chosen singers will join the headliner on tour, performing an opening act at venues all over the country, competing to earn the next city, thus remaining on the tour.
“I know a thing or two about singing competitions and what it’s like to chase a music dream and live life on tour,” said Shelton. “I’m looking forward to discovering new talent and giving them this platform.”
Cash Cortes Announces Debut Solo Track + Feature on “It’s All Country”
The debut track from Cash Cortes’s 2025 LP, “Poor Man’s Gold,” is set to be released on Friday, November 15. In conjunction, the artist will be featured on Hulu’s It’s All Country, with a performance and interview segment hosted by Luke Bryan.
The artist, of Puerto Rican descent, notes this song to be an autobiography, down to the artwork. The song was written shortly after he found out he was to be a father, and a transformative moment as Cortes found himself “staring down this newly created pathway [that] filled me with joy and ambition.”
“This music, and getting to share it with the world on Luke Bryan’s Hulu show is a gift I couldn’t have imagined even a year ago,” Cortes said. “I can’t thank Luke and Kane Brown, whose segment I’m featured in, enough for including me and letting me debut this song that means so much to me, to their audience. Thanks also to Hulu for your support of country music.”
Hulu’s It’s All Country, hosted by Luke Bryan, follows the country superstar around Nashville in search of the untold stories behind some of the city’s most legendary songs. It will feature such iconic stars as Kane Brown, Wynonna Judd, Sheryl Crow, Lady A, and more.
For more on Cash Cortes, follow him on Instagram.
