Blake Shelton
Born 1976 in Oklahoma, Blake Shelton is one of the leading males in 21st century country music.
Shelton launched his career in 2001 with the single "Austin" on Giant Records. Although the label quickly closed, the song's fate was unharmed, as parent company Warner Bros. Records quickly picked up the song and pushed it to a five-week stay at number 1. Second album The Dreamer included another number 1 in "The Baby", but the other two singles did not fare as well. He quickly bounced back with the cheeky "Some Beach" in 2004, and saved the flagging Pure BS album with a re-release that included a cover of Michael Bublé's "Home". Startin' Fires also included the chart-topper "She Wouldn't Be Gone".
In 2010, Shelton chose to release two extended plays a year. These included Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight, the title tracks of which were among his many number ones. Since these did not sell well, he returned to a full album in 2011 with Red River Blue.
Shelton has been married to fellow singer Miranda Lambert since 2010. He is currently a vocal coach on the musical competition The Voice.
- Blake Shelton (2001)
- The Dreamer (2003)
- Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill (2004)
- Pure BS (2007)
- Startin' Fires (2008)
- Hillbilly Bone (2010). His first "Six Pak" EP.
- All About Tonight (2010). Second and final EP.
- Red River Blue (2011)
- Bowdlerize: "Drink on It" changes "Man, he sounds like such a prick" to "Man, I'd like to bust his lip" for the radio edit.
- Eighties Hair: He had a mullet through the second album.
- Getting Crap Past the Radar: "Some Beach" (say it out loud). There's also his album Pure BS, which doubles as a Stealth Pun on his initials.
- Last Chorus Slow-Down: "Playboys of the Southwestern World".
- Love Will Lead You Back: Performed via answering machine on "Austin".
- Murder Ballad: Interestingly, a murder is implied but never elaborated on in "Ol' Red".
- Not So Different: "We all got a hillbilly bone down deep inside…"
- Signature Song: "Austin" and "Ol' Red".