Luke Bryan‘s secret to staying motivated is friendly competition.

In an interview clip shared on Friday, Oct. 10 in conversation with CMT, the “Knockin’ Boots” singer spoke about his friendly rivalry with fellow country star Blake Shelton and joked that outdoing the “God’s Country” singer was the only thing keeping him going.

At one point, a crowd of fans cheered, “Blake, we love you!” poking fun at how Bryan and Shelton, both 49, have been mistaken for each other in the past.

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At another point, Bryan was told how he and Shelton stand up with their respective No. 1 hit songs tally. “You know, he’s still behind you, though, on the number ones count,” the interviewer said.

“That’s the only reason that I’m still in the game of country music, to stay ahead,” Bryan quipped. “I thought he was retiring — he’s back putting songs out. It’s not the deal we had.”

Bryan has produced 32 No. 1 hit country songs, while the former Voice coach is only two behind him with 30.

Bryan revealed he was once mistaken for Shelton at a local gas station. “My gas station that I live nearby… one of the attendants that works the cash register [mistook] me for Blake Shelton. That has been my worst thing in the neighborhood,” Bryan shared during an April appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!

“He was so convinced. He’s like, ‘You’re Blake Shelton. Tell me about being Blake Shelton.’ He goes, ‘Do you get that a lot?’ I said, ‘Not much,’ ” he continued.

“The guy looked and me, and he’s like, ‘You are Blake Shelton’s doppelgänger… and he goes, ‘Could you imagine what it would be like to have Blake Shelton’s money?’ ” Bryan recalled, before joking:
“Oh, what it must be like.”

The country crooners’ friendship goes back many years. Five years after Shelton was featured as PEOPLE’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2017, Bryan photoshopped himself onto the cover.

“Don’t doubt me @katyperry, the @people love me and I’m the favorite country judge!” Bryan wrote on X at the time. “Don’t be jealous @blakeshelton.” Shelton played along, responding: “My God buddy I hope that works out better for you!!!!! 😂”

Bryan even attempted to sing a Shelton song once. In December 2015, Bryan covered Shelton’s “Boys ‘Round Here” at the CMT Artists of the Year event in Nashville. He fumbled the lyrics to Shelton’s 2013 hit and apologized for butchering the song.

Bryan released his latest album Mind of a Country Boy in 2024, while Shelton dropped For Recreational Use Only in May.