Celebrate the Heart of Country, Americana, and Roots Music!

Drop Us A Line, Y'all

Y'all interested in advertising, partnering up, contributing stories, joining our team, or just got a question? Well, don't be shy, drop us a line!

Follow Us

80’s Pop Soundtrack “Footloose” Goes Country with Blake Shelton

80’s Pop Soundtrack “Footloose” Goes Country with Blake Shelton
by
  • Riley is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, known for her engaging storytelling and insightful coverage of the genre.
  • Before joining Country Thang Daily, Riley developed her expertise at Billboard and People magazine, focusing on feature stories and music reviews.
  • Riley has a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from Belmont University, with a minor in Cultural Studies.

A “Footloose 2.0” remake in 2011 was made with Blake Shelton singing the soundtrack. On October 8, 2011, the country singer premiered the music video of the classic soundtrack “Footloose” in Shaun Silva’s direction. Along with Shelton’s chart-toppers, the song was featured on his sixth studio album, Red River Blue, as a bonus track. This charted at No. 63 on the US Billboard Hot Country Songs. 

When the trailer for the 2011 reboot of the legendary film made its rounds, many 80s fans were dissatisfied. The news of a country remake of Kenny Loggins’ original soundtrack also left a bad taste in their mouths, but it wouldn’t hurt to give Shelton’s rendition a chance. 

Veteran The Voice coach singer put his country twist to the 80s hit with a smooth, twangy performance in an upbeat tune. “In this instance, you have to remove yourself from it and step into the role of what’s best for the movie and that particular scene. There’s really only one way to approach it when you think of it that way: a fun, uptempo, catchy version just like Kenny Loggins did,” Shelton explained.  

Shelton’s version received varied reactions when fans listened to it for the first time. So, he took it upon himself to post on X, previously called Twitter, in 2011 and said, “Ha! I can’t sleep, so I’m reading comments and reviews on my version of “Footloose.”… Man, it’s so polarizing… I love it!! I hate it!! Well, either way, it was SO fun to sing it.”

Fans may not have liked it, but icon Kenny Loggins himself approved the country version. “I always thought of ‘Footloose’ as a country song. Blake makes it even more so. His production updates the sound, especially the drums… If anything, … it’s maybe a bit too perfect. But no matter… It’s still a fun tune and could go all the way. I wish them much luck,” Loggins responded on X.

Shelton and Loggins performed the song at the 45th Annual CMA Awards on November 9, 2011, in Bridgestone Arena, Nashville. With a dynamic stage of amazing dancers behind them, the show was quite the spectacle, similar to its music video. 

Get ready to lose your country feet and dance to Blake Shelton’s country rendition of “Footloose.”

Latest Stories

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

Parker McCollum Claps Back After Oliver Anthony Hints at Autotune Allegations

After viral sensation Oliver Anthony shared some candid—and controversial—thoughts about the music industry, country music fans were abuzz recently. The conversation escalated when Anthony hinted that a mainstream country artist ...

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis' Grammy-Winning "Forever and Ever, Amen"

The Timeless Legacy of Randy Travis’ Grammy-Winning “Forever and Ever, Amen”

When it comes to country music that stands the test of time, Randy Travis is the name that echoes through the halls of history. His deep, resonant voice and unparalleled ...

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis

Phil Robertson Faces Early Alzheimer’s Diagnosis Amid Blood Disease Complications

The Robertson family, known for their Duck Dynasty fame, has revealed concerning news about their beloved patriarch, Phil Robertson. On a recent episode of their podcast, Unashamed with the Robertson ...

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Earliest Known Country Music Recording Discovered, Dating Back to 1891

Country music has always been a storytelling tradition, weaving the trials and triumphs of everyday life into melodies that stand the test of time. While most fans trace the roots ...

The All-American Rejects Reveal "Dirty Little Secret" Started as a Country Song

The All-American Rejects Reveal “Dirty Little Secret” Started as a Country Song

Who would’ve thought? The All-American Rejects, those emo-rock icons of the 2000s, recently revealed a surprising twist about one of their biggest hits. During an interview on the Zach Sang ...

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery's "Sold" With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top Revives John Michael Montgomery’s “Sold” With a Neotraditional Twist

Zach Top is quickly solidifying his place as one of country music’s most exciting rising stars. Hailing from Sunnyside, Washington, Zach brings a neotraditional flair to his music that feels ...

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds' Show

Revisiting the Time Dolly Parton and Country Queens Sang Together on Burt Reynolds’ Show

Burt Reynolds may be best remembered as a Hollywood icon. Still, in the early ’90s, he brought country music royalty together for an unforgettable moment in television history. On his ...

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Mainstream Media Tried to Cancel Chris Stapleton, But Fans Rallied Behind Him

Chris Stapleton’s dominance at the 2024 Country Music Association (CMA) Awards was not without controversy. As he walked away with Single of the Year and Song of the Year for ...

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" Album as "Complete Trash"

Oliver Anthony Criticizes Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” Album as “Complete Trash”

Oliver Anthony is no stranger to controversy. Known for his unapologetic stance against the mainstream music industry, the artist behind “Rich Men North of Richmond” recently turned his attention to ...

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville's Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony Slams Nashville’s Music Industry for Prioritizing Profits Over Authenticity

Oliver Anthony, the breakout star whose hit “Rich Men North of Richmond” skyrocketed him to fame, has made it clear that he wants nothing to do with the music business’s ...