Blake Shelton Ranks His Own Songs And His No. 1 Pick Comes With Complicated Feelings
- All Country News
- 18 minutes ago
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Blake Shelton has spent more than two decades stacking No. 1 hits, signature anthems, and karaoke staples into one of country music’s most recognizable catalogs. But when asked to rank his own songs, the superstar didn’t reach for chart stats or streaming numbers, he reached for scars, stories, and songs that still feel personal.
In a recent sit-down on The Bobby Bones Show, Shelton was asked a deceptively simple question: what are your top five Blake Shelton songs of all time? The answer turned into something far more revealing, a candid self-portrait told through the records that shaped his career and, in some cases, complicated his relationship with his own success.
Rather than delivering a greatest-hits list, Shelton built something closer to a songwriter’s confession.
The Song That Started It All And Still Haunts Him
At No. 1, Shelton placed his 2001 debut single, “Austin.” It’s the track that introduced him to the world and the one he admits he’s had a complicated history with ever since.
“I’ve gone through such a love-hate relationship with that song,” Shelton shared.
That tension makes sense. “Austin” didn’t just launch a career, it defined one.
Spending five weeks at No. 1, it locked Shelton into the national spotlight immediately, a rare and heavy crown for a debut artist. For many artists, the first hit can feel like both a gift and a shadow. For Shelton, it’s clearly both, foundational, unavoidable, and still, somehow, his favorite.
The Deep Cut He Calls His Best Written Song
Shelton’s No. 2 pick wasn’t one of his rowdiest crowd-pleasers. Instead, he pointed to “The Baby,” a tender, devastating ballad that longtime fans often cite as one of the most emotionally powerful songs in his catalog.
He noted that he no longer performs it live, but didn’t hesitate to call it one of the most well-written songs he’s ever recorded.
That choice says a lot. Artists often measure songs differently than audiences do — not by radio performance, but by lyrical weight and emotional craftsmanship. “The Baby” remains one of Shelton’s most story-driven recordings, the kind of song that leaves a room silent when it ends. His ranking confirms its lasting personal impact.
The Anthem That Refuses to Leave the Stage
At No. 3 sits “Ol’ Red,” Shelton’s enduring outlaw-adjacent staple, a song that has outlived multiple eras of his career and still shows up in setlists and fan requests.
If “Austin” built the house, “Ol’ Red” stocked the bar and lit the bonfire out back. It’s become one of Shelton’s most recognizable performance songs, theatrical, gritty, and built for a live crowd. Its staying power speaks to Shelton’s early alignment with story songs that feel cinematic and character-driven.
A Forgotten Favorite with a Beautiful Premise
Shelton’s fourth pick, “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking,” represents a different side of his catalog, softer, more intimate, and rooted in curiosity rather than bravado.
He described it simply and tellingly: a beautiful song with a beautiful idea.
It’s a reminder that Shelton’s success hasn’t only come from humor and swagger. Some of his most enduring recordings lean into vulnerability and wonder — the quieter questions that sit inside relationships rather than the louder declarations.
The Underrated Gem
Rounding out his top five, Shelton singled out “Mine Would Be You,” calling it underrated, a notable label coming from the artist himself.
Among fans and critics, the song has long been praised for its emotional directness and melodic restraint. It’s the kind of track that doesn’t always dominate headlines but tends to age well, a slow-burn favorite that grows in stature over time. Shelton’s defense of it suggests he sees it as one of the hidden pillars in his discography.
A Catalog Measured by Meaning, Not Metrics
What makes Shelton’s rankings compelling isn’t just which songs made the list, it’s why. His choices weren’t driven by chart peaks, awards, or cultural footprint. They were guided by personal connection, songwriting quality, and emotional residue.
It’s a rare moment when a superstar publicly grades his own work and instead of polishing the legacy, Shelton humanized it. He acknowledged complicated feelings, overlooked favorites, and songs that hit harder behind the scenes than they ever did on radio.
For an artist often associated with quick wit and playful irreverence, the list revealed something deeper: Blake Shelton the listener, not just Blake Shelton the hitmaker.
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