OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author’s opinion.
Country music stars Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton have been at the center of “friend or foe?” rumors for years, with playful jabs, award show antics, and social media teasing fueling endless fan speculation. But as it turns out, Bryan is in no rush to set the record straight—and he’s happy for fans to keep guessing.
“Worry About Me and Blake”
In a recent interview with Audacy, Bryan laughed off the ongoing rumors, saying, “I mean people will really worry about me and Blake. The day that country music loses that or any of that gets lost… There’s real beefs that go on, but I don’t have time for beefs. I just wanna grill the beef.”
It’s classic Bryan—blending humor and heart in a single sentence. While country music certainly has its share of genuine rivalries, Bryan is quick to clarify he has no time for drama. Still, the playful mythos around his “feud” with Shelton only adds to their mutual appeal.
Comedy, Country, and Keeping It Light
For Bryan, the real trouble comes not from faux-feuds but from folks who don’t get a joke—especially in today’s climate. “I think that’s the hurdle in society this day. When you go into comedy, the comedians, they gotta go for the big joke,” Bryan told Audacy. “Sometimes if I’m having fun up there, I wanna go for the big joke. And if you do that, there’s a percentage that they’re not always gonna land like you want them. But I think you gotta trust your fans to know you got a good heart under there and don’t twist it around too much.”
In other words, if he cracks wise about Shelton—or anyone else—it’s all in good fun, not a sign of actual tension. He hopes fans will keep seeing the humor and not read too much into the banter.
When Hits Almost Go to Your “Rival”
Adding another layer to their playful “rivalry,” Bryan’s current Top 5 hit, “Country Song Came On,” almost ended up in Shelton’s hands. “When I got the demo, the guy’s voice on the demo had a lot of similarities to Blake’s voice,” Bryan told Taste of Country. “I’m not sure if it had got to Blake, but it was something that I really rolled around in my truck and loved and fell in love with.”
He admitted that if the song hadn’t been a fit for him, he would have passed it along to Shelton: “Had it been something that it wasn’t for me, I probably would have texted Blake and said, ‘Hey man, I hear a song that really feels like something special for you.’” Luckily for Bryan, he kept it for himself—and it’s paying off.
No Hard Feelings—Plenty of Chart Success
Of course, Bryan need not worry about Shelton’s chart health. Shelton recently notched a No. 1 hit with “Texas” and is back in the Top 30 with “Stay Country or Die Tryin’.” Both artists continue to thrive—and their ongoing onstage antics and offstage banter only seem to boost their mutual profiles.
So, is there any real feud between Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton? Not a chance. But as Bryan makes clear, as long as the rumors keep fans invested—and laughing—he’s more than happy to let the legend live on.