Blake Shelton’s Bringing Back The Sunshine Arrives September 30th

BLAKE SHELTON’S BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE RISES SEPTEMBER 30

Performs Lead Single “Neon Light” On Today Show & Live With Kelly and Michael

With his new single “Neon Light” rising fast on the charts, CMA reigning Male Vocalist of the Year Blake Shelton is ready to release his 11th studio album, BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE on Tuesday, September 30. With performances on The Today Show on October 1 and Live with Kelly and Michael on October 2, SUNSHINE finds Shelton at his best. “There’s something magical about that title, and given what this album is all about, I thought ‘BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE’ is like I’m bringing back some country music,” he says. “Country is sunshine to me.”

With 11 tracks, Shelton returns to those themes that drew him to Nashville as a 17 year-old kid fresh out of high school. “It’s very important to me to push myself and my musical boundaries but it’s also important for me to come back and touch home base every once in a while, to be sure there’s always a firm foot planted in country music. Country music is defined by each individual, and this is my definition of stepping back a little bit. I wanted to make a record that represents the beginning of my career, but also blending with where I’ve ended up.”

The album features two songs with guest vocalists. “Lonely Tonight,” written by Brent Anderson and Ryan Hurd is a stirring duet with Ashley Monroe. “We all know she’s a singer/songwriter, but I don’t think people know the girl can wail like she can,” says Shelton. “As a vocalist, I just wanted to step up to that level, so I was really hard on myself, and tried to make that as best as I could possibly get it.”

On “Buzzin'” Shelton keeps it in the family with The Voice season two contestant and teammate Rae Lynn. “I’m so proud of what Rae Lynn has accomplished and she brings her great vocals to this fun song.” Written Kendell Marvel and Craig Wiseman, the hilarious and instantly memorable song finds Wiseman at his best. “Craig is so brilliant, so smart with his songwriting. Every time I see his name on a song I can’t wait to hear it.”

Shifting gears, Shelton says “Sangria” is “one of the sexiest songs” he’s ever cut. “It sounds like something that came from a different time, almost like something Chris Isaak would have had on one of his records at some point. It’s just about one of those nights where you drink too much and you’re gonna end up hookin’ up with this person, it’s just inevitable. It’s not too over the top, but it’s pure sex, that’s the only way I know to describe that song.”

Perhaps the defining track on SUNSHINE is “A Good Country Song,” a bittersweet, breathtaking slice of nostalgia written by Tommy Lee James, Matt Jenkins, and Jessi Alexander. “Jessi Alexander is a great friend of mine, and she got in touch with me when she heard we were cutting tracks and said she wanted to write something for me. When I heard the lyric, it was almost as if she grew up in the same house I grew up in, from shifting the gears in my dad’s truck to listening to Earl Thomas Conley on a station out of Tulsa. There has never been a more accurate song about me that I have recorded.”

BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE breaks on September 30 and fans who pre-order the album now will immediately receive “Neon Light,” “Lonely Tonight” featuring Ashley Monroe, “Buzzin’” featuring Rae Lynn and “Sangria.”

BRINGING BACK THE SUNSHINE is produced by longtime friend and collaborator Scott Hendricks. Wrapping up his sold-out Ten Times Crazier Tour 2014, which included performances at NYC’s Madison Square Garden and Chicago’s Wrigley Field Stadium (playing to a capacity crowd of over 40,000 fans as only the fourth country artist to have ever played the iconic 100 year-old ball park), Shelton will visit LA’s historic Hollywood Bowl next Saturday following the album’s release. Celebrating thirteen years since his first single “Austin” hit the top of the country radio charts, Shelton holds 17 No. 1 singles to his credit, recently breaking his own record for most consecutive No. 1’s at country radio. With 12 singles, including five from his last album alone, Shelton has the most No. 1’s in a row on the country radio charts by any artist. Joining the ranks of the Grand Ole Opry as a member since 2010, Shelton has earned a host of awards and nominations throughout his career, including three new CMA Award nominations this year for Entertainer of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and Song of the Year for “Mine Would Be You.” Shelton returned as a coach for his seventh season of NBC’s Emmy winning reality competition series, The Voice, which premiered September 22nd.

For more information and upcoming tour dates, please visit: www.BlakeShelton.com and follow @BlakeShelton.