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Blake Shelton Breaks His Tie With One Of Country Music’s Greatest Stars

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Back in May of 2025, Blake Shelton released his thirteenth album For Recreational Use Only. The project marked his first in decades to not be released by a major label, and it was not nearly as commercially successful as many of his past efforts.

Months after it dropped, the full-length sees its latest single, “Stay Country or Die Tryin’,” climb to a new peak on multiple Billboard charts. The song helps Shelton make history as it soars to No. 1 on one list, earning the superstar a very important champion.

“Stay Country or Die Tryin’” Rises to No. 1

On this week’s Country Airplay chart, which ranks the 60 tracks that reach the largest audiences via radio stations in the U.S. that focus solely on country music, “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” hits No. 1. Shelton’s cut rises to the summit 33 turns into its time on the tally. The country talent’s current focus improves from No. 3 to No. 1.

Blake Shelton Hits a Historic Career Total

As “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” rockets to No. 1, Shelton collects his milestone thirtieth leader on the Country Airplay chart. He is just the second act in the roster’s history to make it to that landmark figure.

Blake Shelton Breaks His Tie with Tim McGraw

As Shelton scores a thirtieth No. 1, he breaks out of a tie with Tim McGraw, another one of the most successful artists to ever promote music to country radio. Before this week, Shelton and McGraw were tied and jointly claimed the second-most No. 1s in the Country Airplay ranking’s decades-long tenure, but now McGraw has been pushed to third place.

Kenny Chesney Claims the All-Time Record

The only artist who beats Shelton and McGraw is Kenny Chesney. Throughout his career, Chesney has racked up 33 No. 1s – a sum that Shelton is surely hoping to match at some point.

Here is a list of all of Shelton’s No. 1 hits on the Country Airplay chart.

  • “A Guy With A Girl”
  • “All About Tonight”
  • “Austin”
  • “Boys ‘Round Here” with Pistol Annies & Friends
  • “Came Here To Forget”
  • “Doin’ What She Likes”
  • “Drink On It”
  • “Every Time I Hear That Song”
  • “God Gave Me You”
  • “God’s Country”
  • “Gonna”
  • “Happy Anywhere” with Gwen Stefani
  • “Hillbilly Bone” with Trace Adkins
  • “Home”
  • “Honey Bee”
  • “I’ll Name The Dogs”
  • “Lonely Tonight” with Ashley Monroe
  • “Mine Would Be You”
  • “My Eyes” with Gwen Sebastian
  • “Neon Light”
  • “Nobody But You” with Gwen Stefani
  • “Over”
  • “Pour Me A Drink” with Post Malone
  • “Sangria”
  • “She Wouldn’t Be Gone”
  • “Some Beach”
  • “Stay Country Or Die Tryin'”
  • “Sure Be Cool If You Did”
  • “The Baby”
  • “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking”

“Stay Country or Die Tryin’” Lifts on Multiple Billboard Charts

“Stay Country or Die Tryin’” appears on four Billboard rankings, and it climbs to a new peak position on all but one of them. In addition to the Country Airplay list, Shelton’s single improves to No. 12 on the Radio Songs roster, and it’s up two spaces to No. 63 on the Hot 100. “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” nears the top 10 on the all-genre Radio Songs chart 13 weeks into its time on that list, while it only debuted on the Hot 100 – which details the 100 most-consumed cuts throughout the nation – last week.

“Stay Country or Die Tryin’” Has a Long Way to Go on One List

Despite its improvement at radio, “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” is a non-mover on the Hot Country Songs chart, a consumption-based tally that looks at the most popular country tracks. Airplay is only one factor in the ranking’s methodology, in addition to streaming activity and sales, and “Stay Country or Die Tryin’” has a long way to go before it approaches the No. 1 space on the Hot Country Songs list, let alone the top 10. Shelton’s smash has only ever climbed to No. 22, one space above where it settles this time around.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2026/01/19/blake-shelton-breaks-his-tie-with-one-of-country-musics-greatest-stars/