We already knew that Blake Shelton was going to perform “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” with Toby Keith at the 2018 ACM Awards. But he surprised everyone when he took to the stage for a solo performance, during which he sang his current single “I Lived It.”
The sentimental new single is the latest release off of Shelton’s album Texoma Shore. Although Shelton didn’t write the song, you’d never guess it based on how sincere he sings it.
As you listen, you can hear Shelton sing of old memories: putting grease in Crisco cans, push mowing lawns, and riding around in the back of a truck. They are memories that are distinctly country, and therefore ones that some people may not understand.
But to Shelton, that’s alright. As he sings, he understands these things perfectly, since they were part of the life he lived.
The song, and its nostalgic music video, have been big hits with country fans far and wide since their release.
For Shelton’s ACM Awards performance, he opted for an intimate, stripped down approach. Seated on a stool with acoustic guitar in hand, Shelton poured his heart out on the stage.
It was a noteworthy performance, because it marks the first time Shelton has played at the ACM Awards in years. After not performing on the show for so long, “I Lived It” seemed like the perfect song choice for him, considering its sentimental tone.
At one point during his performance, the camera panned to show his girlfriend of over two years, Gwen Stefani, singing along with him.
In case you missed it, you can catch a snippet of Shelton singing “I Lived It” at the ACM Awards in the video below. People will be talking about this performance for days to come!