Blake Shelton’s brand-new album, For Recreational Use Only, dropped on May 9—and fans are calling it one of his most honest and personal projects yet. Full of stories about love, loss, and life’s twists and turns, one song in particular is stealing the spotlight: “Hangin’ On”, a beautiful duet with his wife, Gwen Stefani.
A Love Song with a Twist
Written by Greylan James, Sam Ellis, and Charles Kelley of Lady A, “Hangin’ On” tells the emotional story of a love that never quite let go. It opens with Blake’s signature raw, gravelly voice setting the scene—just when you think you’ve moved on, the past finds its way back in.
Then Gwen’s voice joins in, soft and haunting, like a memory you can’t shake. The two sing about holding on to words and moments long after a relationship has ended. Their voices blend with such natural chemistry, you can feel the weight of every word they share.
“I hear you’re hangin’ on the other side of this town…
I shoulda let go by now / But I keep hangin’ on to every word you said.”
Though they come from very different musical backgrounds—Blake’s country roots and Gwen’s pop-rock edge—they meet in the middle with a sound that feels deeply authentic.
Music and Marriage, Hand in Hand
In a recent interview with TODAY, Blake opened up about what it means to record music with Gwen. He didn’t hesitate to say she’ll always have a place in his future work:
“I don’t feel like I want to make a record without a duet with Gwen on it anymore. She’s my favorite person to sing with.”
Even though “Hangin’ On” is about heartbreak, Blake said it was still “so fun” to sing with her. Their musical journey started back in 2014 on The Voice, and now—years later—they’re married, raising Stefani’s three sons, and dreaming of performing as a family at the Grand Ole Opry.
“That would be Gwen’s dream come true — to have a family band or something like that.”
A New Chapter for Blake
For Recreational Use Only is Shelton’s first full-length studio album in nearly four years, released via BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. With 12 tracks that blend humor, heartache, and a touch of nostalgia, it feels like a return to the kind of storytelling that made fans fall in love with Blake in the first place.
The album also features collaborations with country icon John Anderson and Blake’s longtime tour buddy Craig Morgan, giving it that classic “friends and family” feel.
Fresh off his sold-out Friends & Heroes Tour, this album proves Blake Shelton is still one of country music’s most down-to-earth and beloved voices—and with Gwen by his side, he’s creating something truly special.
