Craig Morgan and Blake Shelton have been friends for years, but that doesn’t mean Morgan will take it easy on his buddy—especially when there’s a good roast. While promoting his new EP, American Soundtrack, Craig stopped by Taste of Country Nights. He wasted no time taking some playful jabs at his Friends & Heroes Tour boss.
‘He’s Soft, Man. He’s Soft.’
During the interview, Craig Morgan was asked a simple (but loaded) question: Who would win in a bare-knuckle fight—him or Blake Shelton? Without hesitation, Morgan answered with the confidence of a man who’s spent time in the Army and isn’t afraid to back up his words.
“Oh, no question, I’m gonna win,” he said. “If he [Shelton] got 3 minutes in, I’d be surprised.”
Then came the real punch—verbally, at least.
“He’s soft, man. He’s soft,” Morgan added, going all in on his roast. “He don’t work hard anymore. He used to work hard, now he just kinda rides the wagon, ya know?”
RELATED: Beyond The Clouds and Over The Rocks: Blake Shelton and Craig Morgan’s Friendship
It’s all in good fun, of course. Shelton may not be grinding out the long tour schedules like he used to, but that’s because he’s earned the right to take it easy. After years of churning out hits, serving as a coach on The Voice for 23 seasons, and expanding his Ole Red bar franchise, Shelton has settled into a life that includes more time on his Oklahoma farm and with his wife, Gwen Stefani. But according to Morgan, even that farm life isn’t as rough as Shelton likes to make it seem.
When the host pointed out that Shelton works the land on his Oklahoma property, implying that his hands should be pretty calloused, Morgan wasn’t buying it.
“Good creams and lotions,” he quipped, suggesting that Shelton’s hands are more moisturized than a farmer’s should be.
A Friendship Built on Good-Natured Jabs
This isn’t the first time Craig Morgan has taken a few lighthearted shots at Blake Shelton. Back in 2022, when some of Shelton’s artwork was shown, Morgan didn’t hold back his opinion either. And if there’s one thing we know about country music friendships, it’s that good-natured teasing is a sign of respect.
For his part, Shelton is no stranger to these kinds of back-and-forths. He’s been known to take jabs at his buddies like Luke Bryan over the years, so he can dish it just as well as he can take it. And while Shelton might be living the “soft” life these days, he’s still headlining his 2025 Friends & Heroes Tour—with Craig Morgan along for the ride.
So, will Shelton fire back at Morgan for calling him out? If history indicates, we haven’t heard the last of this battle just yet.