Blake Shelton Unleashes Stormy ‘Come Back As a Country Boy’ at CMAs

This performance was a gritty standout.

Written by Chris Parton
Blake Shelton Unleashes Stormy ‘Come Back As a Country Boy’ at CMAs
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - NOVEMBER 10: Blake Shelton performs during the 55th annual Country Music Association awards at the Bridgestone Arena on November 10, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Terry Wyatt/Getty Images)

Blake Shelton made no bones about his country-lifestyle allegiance on the 55th Annual CMA Awards, turning in a stormy, spooky performance of his new single, “Come Back As a Country Boy.”

Featuring a backwoods-or-die theme and a dark, boot-stomping groove, the fierce country anthem was brought to life on an equally stormy stage. With a broken-down ranch behind him and thunderclouds on the horizon, Shelton’s vocal boomed with chest-thumping pride as the superstar delivered a gritty anthem to knowing exactly who you want to be. Meanwhile, he was joined by CMA Musician of the Year Jenee Fleenor on guitar.

“Come Back As a Country Boy” was released in October as the third single from Shelton’s latest album, Body Language Deluxe. Featuring a chest-thumping theme filled with down-home pride in a simple life tied to the land, the track was written by Jordan Schmidt, Josh Thompson and HARDY — but it’s not the only new music Shelton has shared lately.

The longtime TV star on NBC’s The Voice also released the song he wrote for his wedding to fellow Voice-alum, Gwen Stefani, giving fans a look inside their relationship with “We Can Reach the Stars.” Blake Shelton co-wrote the tune as a gift to his pop-superstar bride on their wedding day and said it was important for him to put it out publicly.

“Gwen and I decided we were going to write our own vows for the wedding, but I decided to surprise her by writing a song instead,” he announced. “I reached out to my buddy Craig Wiseman, who is a world-class songwriter, to help me write and structure something that would stand the test of time. I’m really proud of ‘We Can Reach The Stars’ and I’m really honored to be with her. That’s why we got married in the first place. That’s why we wear rings … because we want everyone to know. I’m thrilled to share this song with the world.”

Back in their usual format after the pandemic-impacted 2020 show, the 55th Annual CMA Awards aired live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 10. The night featured dozens of performances and awards presentation for a glitzy ceremony dubbed “Country’s Biggest Night,” and was hosted by superstar Luke Bryan for the first time. You can check out Sounds Like Nashville’s full coverage here.