Drake Milligan was opening for Blake Shelton in Fishers, Ind., when the “Sangria” singer appeared on stage behind him, seemingly out of nowhere.
Both Milligan and the crowd were shocked.
“As if opening for Blake Shelton wasn’t cool enough …” Milligan writes alongside video he later shared via TikTok.
As Milligan finished his opening set and had the crowd warmed up for Shelton, he thought he would do what he does every other time he opens for Shelton, or anyone else, and return to his dressing room.
But on this night, Shelton had plans. He wanted to surprise the up-and-comer, so when Shelton got to the stage, he called Milligan back so they could sing a song together.
The song Shelton chose was the classic George Strait tune “All My Ex’s Live in Texas.”
In the video, Shelton is visibly taking the country newcomer under his wing, and hugging him in a brotherly way as the two sing the Strait song with smiles on their faces.
It’s fun to see Milligan, 26, and Shelton, 48, vibe together, despite their not only age difference, but their vastly different experience levels.
Milligan appears visibly nervous to be doing what he is doing, standing next to Shelton, singing another legend’s song.
The “God’s Country” singer, on the other hand, is seasoned veteran and seems as comfortable as he would be on his couch.
At the end of their Strait cover, Milligan kind of nervously dances off of stage alone, with his blue Solo cup in hand and a smile on his face. It’s a moment that the rising country star will no doubt talk about forever.
Top Blake Shelton Songs: His Greatest Hits + Best Deep Cuts
Taste of Country staff opinion, and the commercial success of tracks from Shelton’s 12 studio albums were certainly considered in making this list of the top Blake Shelton songs. More than anything, we sought fan input, via sales and direct input. What’s your favorite Blake Shelton song, and does it agree with our No. 1?
Below are the The Voice coach’s 50 best songs. Lyrical integrity and production were also considered in this ranking. Really it’s hard to argue against any of the Top 5, but we understand if there’s a debate about placement. Heck, we encourage it!
No. 50: Shes Got a Way With Words Warner Music Nashville
No. 50: “She’s Got a Way With Words”
Songwriters Andy Albert, Marc Beeson and Wyatt Earp wrote a clever country lyric, but the problem is, it felt too personal from Blake Shelton in 2016. This is the song that stopped Shelton’s impressive streak of No. 1 singles. Sonically, very few songs from this era stand apart from one another.
No. 49: Gonna Warner Music Nashville
No. 49: “Gonna”
“Gonna” isn’t a bad song — a strong case could be made that it’s better than some of the singles ranked ahead of it on this list of the top 50 Blake Shelton songs, actually — the love story from 2014 just isn’t memorable in any way. Think about it: At best you said, “I remember that song” but more likely thought, “which one is that?”
No. 48: The Wave Warner Music Nashville
No. 48: “The Wave”
“The Wave” is a unique metaphor for how a good love can wash away all of your troubles. Blake Shelton’s song from Texoma Shore is another fan favorite. The mid-tempo track displays his voice nicely.
No. 47: When the Wine Wears Off Warner Music Nashville
No. 47: “When the Wine Wears Off”
Rhett Akins co-wrote “When the Wine Wears Off,” an album track from Texoma Shore that could have been a single. The song’s structure and flow is very similar to so many hits from this era of Blake Shelton.
No. 46: Anyone Else
Warner Music Nashville
No. 46: “Anyone Else”
When asked which deep cut they like most, Blake Shelton fans chose “Anyone Else,” an album cut from Bringing Back the Sunshine. This ballad shows a bitterness that’s rare across the singer’s discography, and certainly this list of 50 songs. It’s packaged in a fairly unoffensive arrangement, but his lyrics really sting.
No. 45: Over Warner Music Nashville
No. 45: “Over”
Blake Shelton gives a great vocal performance of a fairly ordinary song during “Over,” his fourth straight No. 1 single from the Red River Blue album.
