Blake Shelton is one of the most well-known and talented country singers out there, but
how exactly did the country star rise to fame? From Oklahoma to Nashville to the set of "The
Voice," let's take a look at the stunning transformation of Blake Shelton.
Blake Shelton was born in Ada, Oklahoma. Shelton always speaks very fondly of his childhood
home because of his family's tight-knit bond. In a 2018 interview with Cowboys & Indians,
Shelton shared,
"I could always, and I can still always, count on my family."
"I went fishing or hunting every day after school, and whatever I had ended up on that
porch."
Shelton told Men’s Journal that, as a class clown, he loved nothing more than to be the
center of attention. So, when he was offered a job to perform weekly at a theater in downtown
Ada at just 15 years old, he couldn't resist. Notably, Shelton also started writing and
performing his own songs in high school, and he soon started dreaming of life as a country
star.
After Shelton graduated high school in 1994, he moved to Nashville. With the help of Mae
Boren Axton, Shelton explained in an interview with CMT News, he got a job painting her house
while she introduced him to people in the industry. In an interview with MTV News, Shelton
said,
"She introduced me to a lot of people when I got here. It was like my security blanket.
I always knew if I needed something or if I had a question, I could call Mae."
Shelton's first single, "Austin," was released in 2001, and just two weeks later, Giant Records
closed. Shelton told CMT News that, luckily, "Austin" had already charted when his record
label closed, so he was able to join Warner Bros. "Austin" went No. 1 in September on
Billboard's Hot Country Songs Chart, and Shelton quickly became a force in the country music
industry.
Blake Shelton released his debut, self-titled album over two decades ago in July 2001. His
debut single, "Austin," ended up spending five weeks in the No. 1 spot on the Billboard
charts, immediately giving Shelton recognition across the country. Other popular singles
from the album include, "Ol' Red," "She Doesn't Know She's Got It," and "Every Time I Look
at You."
Although Shelton's life would never be the same after he released his first album, Shelton
admitted in an interview with People that sometimes he doesn't feel like much has changed.
While reflecting on the 20 years since the release of the album, Shelton said,
"Man — 20 years may have passed, but sometimes I still feel like the kid from Oklahoma I
was back then! The kid who came to Nashville just wanting to sing country music."
Even though so much has changed, we think it's safe to say that Shelton still resembles
that tall, goofy kid from Oklahoma.
Blake Shelton proposed to Miranda Lambert in 2010 after almost six years of dating,
and the pair finally got married in May of 2011. Shelton was previously married from
2003 to 2006, and during this time, Shelton met Lambert, who was herself engaged. Before
their wedding, Shelton confessed to The Boot,
"Miranda and I, our relationship is odd. But really, really, really tight [...] We've gotten
to the point where we really lean on each other for a lot of things, and it surprises
me with how much we're involved with each other's careers, probably to the point where
it makes people that work with us uncomfortable."
Lambert and Shelton settled down in Oklahoma and quickly became the power couple of country
music. Lambert excitedly told People after their engagement,
"I'm just excited to be married because I want to tell Blake I really can love him the
rest of my life and be happy and make him happy."
Blake Shelton has now served as a judge on NBC's "The Voice" since it's premiere date
over a decade ago in April 2011. Funny enough, he revealed that he thought the show was a
little silly at first. In a press conference, Parade reported that Shelton confessed that
he and Adam Levine both thought the show was pretty ridiculous, but that they both needed
a job at the time. In fact, Shelton even turned the opportunity down at first, until he heard
that Christina Aguilera had agreed to be a judge. If it was good enough for her, it must
be good enough for him, he told Men's Journal.
According to Shelton, you can credit his success as a coach and mentor on "The Voice" to his
lovable, boy-next-door personality. Shelton explained to Men's Journal,
"If there's one thing special about me, it's that I seem familiar. People feel like I live
next door."
“Come to team Blake. Let’s do this!”
Blake Shelton and Gwen Stefani met on the set of "The Voice” in 2014 while they were
still married to their former spouses, but later bonded over their very public divorces.
Shelton and Miranda Lambert filed for divorce in 2015, and Stefani shocked everyone when
she also filed for divorce from Gavin Rossdale in 2015, after 13 years of marriage and three
children.
In an interview with Billboard, Shelton explained that the pair grew so close so quickly, saying,
"Who else on earth could understand going through a high-profile divorce from another
musician? You can't even imagine the similarities in our divorces."
The two learned to lean on each other during a difficult period of time, and made their
official debut as a couple at the Vanity Fair Oscar party in February 2016. The duo lead
a super glamorous life together, and they finally tied the knot in July 2021.
"Body Language"
Blake Shelton released his 11th studio album and first album in four years, "Body Language,"
in May 2021. Although the album was largely successful and landed on the top 10 of Billboard's
Top Country Albums chart, "Body Language" almost didn't exist. In an interview with
Apple Music, Shelton confessed,
"Just to be completely honest with you, I didn't even know if I was ever going to put
out another actual album or not. I just kept recording throughout that time period and
next thing you know, a few years go by and you got this pile of songs laying there that
you're really proud of."
The lead single of the album, "Happy Anywhere," which features Gwen Stefani landed at No.
3 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart in December 2020.
"The song is so 'our song' and we're so in love, and it really is the perfect way to
describe us."
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