You don't try to get influenced by everything that's going on with all the other music around you. You don't listen to the radio - I mean, I don't. When I get ready to do an album, I don't listen to anybody else; I don't wanna be influenced.

McGraw was set to debut a new song on the 2009 ACM Awards but then cancelled his performance; he was replaced by Blake Shelton who sang "She Wouldn't Be Gone".  1 on Billboard (10 weeks on Radio & Records) and went on to become the biggest hit single of the year. In November 2011 a judge granted McGraw permission to record music for another label ending his relationship with Curb Records that began in 1990.

McGraw has ventured into acting with supporting roles in The Blind Side (with Sandra Bullock) Friday Night Lights The Kingdom and Four Christmases (with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon) and lead roles in Flicka (2006) and Country Strong (2010). He is married to country singer Faith Hill and is the son of the late baseball player Tug McGraw.  1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart.