Blake Shelton

Biography

Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country music singer, songwriter, and television personality. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin×Austin1 May 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Austin (album version)3:492Problems at Home (album Vversion)4:00" from his self-titled debut album. "Austin" spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart. The now platinum-certified debut album also produced two more top-20 entries ("All Over Me" and "Ol' Red").
His second and third albums, 2003's The Dreamer×The Dreamer4 February 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Heavy Liftin'3:272The Baby3:553Asphalt Cowboy3:394In My Heaven3:105The Dreamer4:006My Neck of the Woods3:467Underneath the Same Moon3:528Georgia in a Jug3:069Playboys of the Southwestern World4:2810Someday3:37 and 2004's Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill, are gold and platinum, respectively. His fourth album, Pure BS×Pure BS1 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1This Can't Be Good3:332Don't Make Me4:073The More I Drink3:374I Don't Care3:525She Don't Love Me3:046Back There Again4:187It Ain't Easy Bein' Me3:208What I Wouldn't Give4:229I Have Been Lonely3:1510She Can't Get That3:4611The Last Country Song3:24 (2007), was reissued in 2008 with a cover of Michael Bublé's pop hit "Home" as one of the bonus tracks. His fifth album, Startin' Fires was released in November 2008. It was followed by the extended plays Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight in 2010 and the albums Red River Blue×Red River Blue11 July 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Honey Bee3:302Ready to Roll3:363God Gave Me You3:504Get Some3:325Drink on It3:326Good Ole Boys3:087I'm Sorry3:288Sunny in Seattle3:289Over3:1310Hey3:3111Red River Blue3:2312Chill3:2713Addicted4:00 in 2011, Based on a True Story... in 2013, Bringing Back the Sunshine in 2014, If I'm Honest in 2016, Texoma Shore in 2017, Fully Loaded: God's Country in 2019, Body Language in 2021, and his latest album For Recreational Use Only×For Recreational Use Only9 May 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Stay Country or Die Tryin’3:412Texas2:493Hangin’ On3:274Strangers3:225Let Him in Anyway3:176Heaven Sweet Home3:417Life’s Been Comin’ Too Fast3:108Don’t Mississippi3:089All of My Love3:4010Cold Can3:0711The Keys2:5112Years3:48 in 2025.
As of December 2020, Shelton has charted 41 singles, including 30 number ones, 17 of which were consecutive. The 11th number one ("Doin' What She Likes") broke "the record for the most consecutive number-one singles in the Country Airplay chart's 24-year history". Throughout his career, he has received nine Grammy Award nominations, including two for Best Country Album. In 2024, Shelton left Warner Music Nashville and signed with BBR Music Group.
Shelton has been a judge on the televised singing competitions Nashville Star and Clash of the Choirs, and a coach on NBC's The Voice. He was on The Voice from 2011 to 2023, and in 9 of 23 seasons (2–4, 7, 11, 13, 18, 20, and 22), a member of his team won.

Early life

Blake Tollison Shelton was born on June 18, 1976, in Ada, Oklahoma, to Dorothy Ann (née Byrd) (born 1936), a beauty salon owner, and Richard Lee "Dick" Shelton (1940–2012), a car salesman. Shelton began singing at an early age and by the age of 12, he was taught how to play the guitar by his uncle. By age 15, he had written his first song. By age 16, he had received a Denbo Diamond Award in his home state. On November 13, 1990, his older brother, Richie Shelton died in an automobile accident at the age of 24.
After graduating from high school at 17, he moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to pursue a singing career. There, he got a job at a music publishing company, and, in 1997, he was aided by Bobby Braddock to obtain a production contract with Sony Music.

2001–2006: Beginnings

Some years later in Nashville, he signed to Giant Records. In 2001, he was slated to release a song entitled "I Wanna Talk About Me" as a single, but the staff at the label considered the song unsuitable for a lead-off single, and the song was eventually recorded by Toby Keith, whose version was a number-one single.
Instead, Giant released "Austin×Austin1 May 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Austin (album version)3:492Problems at Home (album Vversion)4:00" as Shelton's debut single. Shortly after that song was released, Giant Records was closed, and Shelton was transferred to parent company Warner Bros. Records. "Austin" became Shelton's first number-one hit on the Billboard Hot Country Singles and Tracks (now Hot Country Songs) charts and spent five weeks at that position. Warner released Shelton's self-titled debut album, which was produced by songwriter Bobby Braddock. It also produced the top-20 hits "All Over Me", which Shelton co-wrote with Earl Thomas Conley and Mike Pyle, and "Ol' Red". Although Shelton's rendition of "Ol' Red" was not a major radio hit, he considers it his signature song, and it has become popular in concert. The album received a platinum certification from the Recording Industry Association of America for shipments of 1,000,000 copies.
The album received a positive review from Maria Konicki Dinoia of Allmusic, who called "Austin" "tremendously imaginative" and praised Shelton for including songs written by Braddock and Conley. Country Standard Time was less favorable, with Scott Homewood saying that the "album just smacks of being assembled with the intent on capturing the burgeoning alternative country market".
Shelton's second album, The Dreamer×The Dreamer4 February 2003 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 10 tracks1Heavy Liftin'3:272The Baby3:553Asphalt Cowboy3:394In My Heaven3:105The Dreamer4:006My Neck of the Woods3:467Underneath the Same Moon3:528Georgia in a Jug3:069Playboys of the Southwestern World4:2810Someday3:37, was first released on February 4, 2003, on Warner Bros. Records. Its lead-off single, "The Baby×The Baby2002 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1The Baby (album version)3:562Ol' Red3The Baby", reached number one on the country charts, holding that position for three weeks. Although the second and third singles ("Heavy Liftin'" and "Playboys of the Southwestern World", respectively) only reached number 32 and number 24, The Dreamer earned gold certification, as well. He, along with Andy Griggs and Montgomery Gentry, sang guest vocals on Tracy Byrd's mid-2003 single "The Truth About Men". Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill was the title of Shelton's third studio album, released in 2004. Its lead-off single, the Harley Allen co-written "When Somebody Knows You That Well", peaked at number 37 on the country charts, while the follow-up "Some Beach×Some Beach2004 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Some Beach3:25" became his third number-one hit, holding that position for four weeks. It was followed by a cover of Conway Twitty's 1988 single "Goodbye Time". Both this cover and its follow-up, "Nobody but Me", reached top 10 for Shelton, as well. As with his first album, Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill was certified platinum. Accompanying the album's release was a video collection entitled Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill: A Video Collection.
On December 18, 2005, several of Shelton's songs, including "Nobody but Me", appeared on the TV movie The Christmas Blessing, starring Neil Patrick Harris, Rebecca Gayheart, Angus T. Jones, and Rob Lowe. Shelton had a small role at the end of the movie, playing himself at a benefit concert, singing "Nobody but Me".

2006–2011: Pure BS and Startin' Fires

Shelton released his fourth studio album, Pure BS×Pure BS1 May 2007 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1This Can't Be Good3:332Don't Make Me4:073The More I Drink3:374I Don't Care3:525She Don't Love Me3:046Back There Again4:187It Ain't Easy Bein' Me3:208What I Wouldn't Give4:229I Have Been Lonely3:1510She Can't Get That3:4611The Last Country Song3:24, in early 2007. Unlike with his first three albums, which were produced entirely by Bobby Braddock, Shelton worked with Braddock, Brent Rowan, and Paul Worley as producers for this album. Its first two singles—"Don't Make Me" and "The More I Drink"—were both top-20 hits on the country charts, respectively reaching number 12 and number 19. Also in late 2007, Shelton made appearances on television shows, first as a judge on the talent competition Nashville Star, and later on Clash of the Choirs.
Pure BS was re-released in 2008 with three bonus tracks, including a cover of Michael Bublé's hit single "Home". This cover, released in early 2008 as the album's third single, became his fourth number-one hit in July.
"Home" was followed in August 2008 by the single "She Wouldn't Be Gone×She Wouldn't Be Gone2008 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1She Wouldn't Be Gone3:35", his 14th chart entry and his fifth number-one hit. It was the first time in his career that he had two consecutive number ones. "She Wouldn't Be Gone" is the lead-off to Shelton's fifth studio album, Startin' Fires, which has also produced the single "I'll Just Hold On". This album also includes "Bare Skin Rug", a duet with Lambert. It was produced by Scott Hendricks, except for one track, which was produced by Brent Rowan, and another ("I Don't Care", which carried over from Pure BS) was produced by Braddock. After "I'll Just Hold On" fell off the chart in October 2009, Shelton released a duet with Trace Adkins titled "Hillbilly Bone×Hillbilly Bone2 March 2010 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1Hillbilly Bone5:442Kiss My Country Ass4:143You'll Always Be Beautiful3:484Can't Afford To Love You3:255Delilah4:066Almost Alright3:10". It was the lead single on Shelton's EP, Hillbilly Bone, released on March 2, 2010, through Reprise Records Nashville. After "Hillbilly Bone" reached number one in February, All About Tonight, the lead-off single to his EP of the same name, was released. In September, he released the second single from All About Tonight, "Who Are You When I'm Not Looking×Who Are You When I'm Not Looking2010 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Who Are You When I'm Not Looking", his 18th single release. He released his first greatest-hits album, Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton×Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton9 November 2010 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 15 tracks1Austin3:502Ol' Red3:433The Baby3:564Playboys of the Southwestern World4:295Some Beach3:256Goodbye Time3:247Nobody but Me2:398Don't Make Me4:079The More I Drink3:3710Home3:5011She Wouldn't Be Gone3:3612Hillbilly Bone3:4413Kiss My Country Ass4:1314All About Tonight3:2615Who Are You When I'm Not Looking3:08 in November 2010.
Shelton was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry during the September 28, 2010, "Country Comes Home" concert celebrating reopening of the Grand Ole Opry House after the Cumberland River flooded the Opry House in May 2010. The formal invitation was extended on his Twitter account and was announced by Opry star Trace Adkins. He was formally inducted by Adkins at the October 23, 2010, Grand Ole Opry performance. Shelton recorded the title track for the remake of Footloose released on October 14, 2011. Shelton appeared on the 44th Annual Country Music Awards on November 10, 2010, where he performed "All About Tonight×All About Tonight10 August 2010 · EPSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 6 tracks1All About Tonight3:272Who Are You When I'm Not Looking3:093That Thing We Do3:054Draggin' the River3:475Suffocating4:136Got a Little Country4:58" and won Male Vocalist of the Year.

2011–2012: The Voice and Red River Blue

Shelton released the album Red River Blue×Red River Blue11 July 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Honey Bee3:302Ready to Roll3:363God Gave Me You3:504Get Some3:325Drink on It3:326Good Ole Boys3:087I'm Sorry3:288Sunny in Seattle3:289Over3:1310Hey3:3111Red River Blue3:2312Chill3:2713Addicted4:00 on July 12, 2011, led by the single, "Honey Bee×Honey Bee1 January 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Honey Bee3:30". The song received 138,000 downloads in its first week and was certified gold in its seventh week, setting a record for the fastest gold certification by a male country singer.
On June 13, 2011, in its 10th chart week, "Honey Bee" went to number one on the Hot Country Songs chart, becoming his ninth and his fastest-climbing one. The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 with around 116,000 copies sold. "God Gave Me You×God Gave Me You25 July 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1God Gave Me You3:48", a cover of a Dave Barnes song, was the album's second single; it also reached number one. "Drink on It", the fifth song on the album, hit number one in April 2012, giving him his 11th such song. On April 30, 2012, Shelton performed "Over" on the semifinals of the second season of The Voice. "Over" became Shelton's seventh consecutive number one and his 12th to date.
In 2011, Shelton became a coach on the NBC show The Voice. In season one, his finalist Dia Frampton came in second. Frampton recorded a track with Shelton titled "I Will" on her album Red, released December 6, 2011. Shelton returned for a second season of the show with his finalist Jermaine Paul as the champion. In season three of The Voice, Shelton's team member, Cassadee Pope, was declared the winner with other Team Blake contestant Terry McDermott finishing as runner-up.
Shelton took the stage with Miranda Lambert at Super Bowl XLVI in February 2012 to open the event, singing a duet version of "America the Beautiful×America the Beautiful27 January 2012 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1America the Beautiful2:38". It marked their first TV performance since their May 2011 wedding. In October 2012, Shelton released his first Christmas album, Cheers, It's Christmas×Cheers, It's Christmas2 October 2012 · Studio albumSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 14 tracks1Jingle Bell Rock2:042White Christmas3:383Oklahoma Christmas3:304Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!2:495There's a New Kid in Town4:326Santa's Got a Choo Choo Train3:377Home3:488Winter Wonderland2:179The Christmas Song3:5710Blue Christmas2:0811I'll Be Home for Christmas3:2612Silver Bells3:1213Time for Me to Come Home2:4214The Very Best Time of the Year2:59, which peaked at numbers one and two, respectively on the Top Holiday Albums and Top Country Albums charts. Shelton appears on fellow Voice coach Christina Aguilera's album Lotus on the song "Just a Fool".

2013–2014: Based on a True Story...

Shortly after midnight on New Year's Day 2013, Shelton premiered a new single entitled "Sure Be Cool If You Did×Sure Be Cool If You Did8 January 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sure Be Cool If You Did3:35", which was released to iTunes on January 8 and reached number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Country Airplay chart in 2013.
His eighth studio album, Based on a True Story..., was released on March 26, 2013, and debuted at number one on the country chart and number three on the all-genre chart by selling a career-best nearly 200,000 copies. The album's second single, "Boys 'Round Here×Boys 'Round Here26 March 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Boys 'Round Here (radio edit)3:49", released to country radio in 2013 and also reached number one on the Country Airplay chart. The album's third single, "Mine Would Be You×Mine Would Be You16 July 2013 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Mine Would Be You3:59", was released to country radio on July 22, 2013, and reached number one on the Country Airplay chart in November 2013. "Mine Would Be You" became Shelton's tenth consecutive number-one single, tying him with the record set by Brad Paisley in 2009. With the release of the album's fourth single, "Doin' What She Likes", Shelton achieved his 11th consecutive number-one single, thus breaking the tie.
Shelton received the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award for his role as a coach on The Voice at the 48th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2013. Shelton supported Based on a True Story... on his Ten Times Crazier Tour, which began on July 19, 2013, and ended on October 5, 2013. Shelton has continued the tour into 2014 and 2015. On season four of The Voice, he became the winning coach for the third consecutive time with team members Danielle Bradbery as the winner and the Swon Brothers in third place.

2014–2016: Bringing Back the Sunshine

In August 2014, Shelton announced that his ninth studio album, Bringing Back the Sunshine×Bringing Back the Sunshine30 September 2014 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube MusicTracklist · 12 tracks1Bringing Back the Sunshine4:022Neon Light3:433Lonely Tonight3:394Gonna3:045A Girl3:366Sangria3:547Buzzin’3:478Just South of Heaven4:109I Need My Girl3:3310Good Country Song3:3811Anyone Else4:2212Just Gettin’ Started3:28, would be released on September 30, 2014. The album contains the singles "Neon Light", "Lonely Tonight×Lonely Tonight12 November 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Lonely Tonight (feat. Ashley Monroe)3:38" (a duet with fellow country singer Ashley Monroe), "Sangria×Sangria3 September 2014 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Sangria3:54", and "Gonna×Gonna27 July 2015 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Gonna3:03". All four singles have reached number one on the Country Airplay chart. On November 13, 2014, Shelton was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for his achievements in the music industry and for the generous work he has done for his home state. Shelton later called the recognition "unbelievable" and "an honor".
In season seven of The Voice, Craig Wayne Boyd was crowned the winner, scoring Shelton his record fourth victory. Shelton recorded a cover of Bob Dylan's 1974 hit "Forever Young×Forever Young2 June 2015 · Single · SoundtrackSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Forever Young3:13" for the soundtrack of Max, which was released in the US on June 26, 2015. Shelton's second greatest-hits album, Reloaded: 20 Number 1 Hits, was released on October 23, 2015.

2016–2018: If I'm Honest and Texoma Shore

Shelton's 10th studio album, If I'm Honest, was released in May 2016. The album's first single "Came Here to Forget×Came Here to Forget8 March 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Came Here to Forget3:40" was released to country radio on March 8, 2016. On November 9, 2015, Nickelodeon announced that Shelton would be the host of the 2016 Kids' Choice Awards. On April 8, 2016, a second single from the album, "Savior's Shadow", was released. It was released to Christian radio on April 12, 2016. In June 2016, Shelton released "She's Got a Way with Words" as the album's third overall single and second promoted country single. The song peaked at number seven on the Country Airplay chart, ending Shelton's streak of 17 consecutive number-one singles. "A Guy with a Girl", the album's fourth single, and third promoted country single, reached the top of the charts in early January, earning Shelton his 23rd career chart-topper.
The album's 10th track "Friends" is the theme song of The Angry Birds Movie, which was released in the US on May 20, 2016. Shelton also voices the character of Earl, a cowboy pig.
In June 2016, Shelton celebrated the grand opening of his exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. The exhibit, titled "Blake Shelton: Based on a True Story", traces Shelton's career path and achievements, encompassing his humble beginnings in Oklahoma, his Nashville origins, and his eventual path toward mainstream success and recognition through his role as a coach on The Voice.
In September 2016, Shelton was selected as one of 30 artists to perform on "Forever Country", a mash-up track of "Take Me Home, Country Roads", "On the Road Again", and "I Will Always Love You" celebrating 50 years of the CMA Awards. The single debuted at number one on Billboard's Hot Country Songs. In season 11 of The Voice, Sundance Head was crowned the winner, giving Shelton his record-extending fifth victory on the show.
In March 2017, Shelton's wax figure was unveiled for Madame Tussauds Nashville and in April Shelton was honored at the Oklahoma Creativity Ambassadors Gala, being one of eight recipients to receive the Creativity Ambassador medallion. In season 13 of The Voice, Chloe Kohanski, who was originally on Miley Cyrus's team, was crowned the winner, giving Shelton his record-extending sixth victory on the show. On September 11, 2017, Shelton released "I'll Name the Dogs×I'll Name the Dogs8 September 2017 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1I'll Name the Dogs3:03" as the lead-off single from his 11th studio album. The album, Texoma Shore×Texoma Shore3 November 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1I'll Name the Dogs3:042At the House3:093Beside You Babe2:584Why Me3:285Money3:306Turnin' Me On4:507The Wave3:518Got the T-Shirt3:139Hangover Due4:0310When the Wine Wears Off2:5611I Lived It3:40, was released on November 3, 2017. The album's second single, "I Lived It", released to country radio on January 29, 2018.

2019–2023: Fully Loaded: God's Country and Body Language

In 2019, Shelton released a compilation album titled Fully Loaded: God's Country. The album was preceded by the single "God's Country", which peaked at number one on Hot Country Songs in mid-2019. Also released from the album was "Hell Right×Hell Right16 August 2019 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Hell Right3:22", a second duet with Adkins, as well as "Nobody but You", a collaboration with partner Gwen Stefani.
In 2020, Todd Tilghman was announced the winner for the 18th season of The Voice, giving Shelton his seventh victory in the series. In 2021, season 20, his finalist Cam Anthony was named the winner, securing Shelton his eighth win as coach.
Shelton released his 12th studio album, Body Language×Body Language21 May 2021 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Minimum Wage3:482Body Language2:503Happy Anywhere2:504Now I Don’t3:505Monday Mornin’ Missin’ You3:406Corn2:597Makin’ It Up as You Go2:428Watcha Doin’ Tomorrow2:419The Girl Can’t Help It2:4410The Flow2:5511Neon Time3:4512Bible Verses3:37, on May 21, 2021. The album's release was preceded by the singles "Happy Anywhere" and "Minimum Wage×Minimum Wage15 January 2021 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Minimum Wage3:48". On September 7, 2022, Shelton announced his 18-date Back to the Honky Tonk Tour. Carly Pearce and Jackson Dean were to join Shelton as opening acts for the tour.
On October 4, 2022, Shelton sold the ownership of his commercially released master recordings from 2001–2019 to Influence Media Partners.
In December 2022, on season 22 of The Voice, his finalist Bryce Leatherwood was named the winner, securing Shelton his ninth and final win as coach before he retired from the show after the following season.

2024–present: New music and label change

Shelton appears on wife Gwen Stefani's song, "Purple Irises", which was released in February 2024. In June 2024, Shelton appeared on Post Malone's album F-1 Trillion on the song "Pour Me a Drink".
After being with Warner Music Nashville since the beginning of his career, in September 2024, Shelton signed with BMG/BBR Music Group and Wheelhouse Records. On November 15, 2024, Shelton released a new single, "Texas×Texas15 November 2024 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Texas2:50". In March 2025, Shelton announced his 13th album, For Recreational Use Only×For Recreational Use Only9 May 2025 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 12 tracks1Stay Country or Die Tryin’3:412Texas2:493Hangin’ On3:274Strangers3:225Let Him in Anyway3:176Heaven Sweet Home3:417Life’s Been Comin’ Too Fast3:108Don’t Mississippi3:089All of My Love3:4010Cold Can3:0711The Keys2:5112Years3:48, which was released on May 9, 2025, and featured two promotional singles, "Let Him in Anyway" and "Stay Country or Die Tryin'×Stay Country or Die Tryin'11 April 2025 · SingleSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 3 tracks1Stay Country or Die Tryin’3:412Let Him In Anyway3:173Texas2:49", the latter of which was released as the album's second single and became Shelton's 30th number one country single in January 2026, giving him the second most number one country singles on that chart behind Kenny Chesney's 33. "Let Him in Anyway" was released as the album's third single in February 2026.

Other ventures

Shelton is a partner, along with Ryman Hospitality Properties (the owners of the Grand Ole Opry), in a small chain of restaurants and entertainment complexes called Ole Red. The first Ole Red opened in Shelton's hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, in September 2017. A Nashville location opened in May 2018. A third location in Gatlinburg opened in March 2019. A fourth location in Orlando, Florida, opened in May 2020. A smaller location opened inside Nashville International Airport in 2022, and a sixth location opened on the Las Vegas Strip in 2024.

Legacy

The New York Times described Shelton as "the most important and visible ambassador from Nashville to the American mainstream". Rolling Stone referred to him as "one of country music's biggest stars over the past decade."
In Backstory: Blake Shelton, a GAC television special broadcast in 2012, country stars Miranda Lambert stated she "respect[s] him so much as a vocalist", while Trace Adkins said he "is going to be as relevant in this business as he wants to be for as long as he wants to be." Country Music Hall of Fame member Brenda Lee has commended both his vocals and songwriting. Singer-songwriter Sheryl Crow credits Shelton with inspiring her musically.
Shelton was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2014, and made a member of the Grand Ole Opry in 2010.

Achievements

Shelton has been the recipient of 10 Country Music Association Awards, six Academy of Country Music Awards, one CMT Artist of the Year award, and 10 CMT Music Awards. He has also received eight American Country Awards, seven People's Choice Awards, three American Music Awards, one Billboard Music Award, and one iHeartRadio Music Award, among others. Shelton has won 27 BMI awards and 27 ASCAP awards. He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2010, for his many accomplishments in country music, and into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2014, attaining the highest honor one can receive from the state. In April 2013, Shelton was awarded the prestigious Gene Weed Special Achievement Award from the Academy of Country Music for his unprecedented, unique and outstanding individual achievement in country music and television. For his work on The Voice as a television personality, Shelton received the NATPE Reality Breakthrough Award for Best Reality Personality in 2017. Shelton has garnered nine Grammy nominations throughout his career, including nominations for Best Country Album, Best Country Solo Performance, and Best Music Film.
As one of the most successful country artists today, Shelton has sold over 10 million records worldwide, and as of 2017, has sold in excess of 30 million singles, while having generated a total of 1.7 billion streams worldwide. Shelton has also amassed a tremendous commercial impact on the country music industry. His debut single "Austin×Austin1 May 2001 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 2 tracks1Austin (album version)3:492Problems at Home (album Vversion)4:00", off his 2001 Platinum-selling self-titled album, tied the record set by Billy Ray Cyrus in 1992, staying atop the country charts for five weeks, and setting the mark for an artist's debut single in the Broadcast Data Systems era. The success of "Austin" also led Shelton to claim the No. 1 position on both Billboard's Hot Country Singles & Tracks chart and Top Country Singles Sales chart, making him the first debut male country artist to own the top spot on both charts simultaneously. Later, in 2010, Shelton's first single, "Honey Bee×Honey Bee1 January 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Honey Bee3:30", from his sixth studio album Red River Blue×Red River Blue11 July 2011 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 13 tracks1Honey Bee3:302Ready to Roll3:363God Gave Me You3:504Get Some3:325Drink on It3:326Good Ole Boys3:087I'm Sorry3:288Sunny in Seattle3:289Over3:1310Hey3:3111Red River Blue3:2312Chill3:2713Addicted4:00, set a new record for the most first-week downloads by a male country singer. As a result of the downloads, the song debuted at number thirteen on the Billboard Hot 100 chart dated for the week ending April 23, 2011. This entry made Shelton the highest-debuting male country artist on the Hot 100 since Garth Brooks (recording as Chris Gaines) debuted at number five in September 1999. As a result of the song's massive commercial success, Shelton also claimed the record for the fastest rising single ever to sell over 500,000 digital copies by a male country soloist. In 2013, Shelton's eighth album, Based on a True Story..., spawned the hit "Doin' What She Likes", which broke the record previously set by Brad Paisley in 2009 for the most consecutive No. 1 singles in the Country Airplay chart's 24-year history, since it was first tracked by Nielsen Broadcast Data Systems in January 1990. In 2016, "Came Here to Forget×Came Here to Forget8 March 2016 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1Came Here to Forget3:40", the lead-off single from Shelton's tenth studio album If I'm Honest, extended this streak into a record-breaking 17 consecutive number-one singles, leading him to surpass Earl Thomas Conley's record of 16 consecutive number-one singles. As of 2017, Shelton remains one of only five country artists to have achieved No. 1 status on the Billboard Artist 100 chart, having charted all 156 weeks the chart has existed. The CMA Awards recognized Shelton, in addition to George Strait and Vince Gill, as the record holders for the most Male Vocalist of the Year wins, as all three have each garnered five victories. In January 2017, he became the first country artist to win People's Choice Awards' Favorite Album. During the ceremony, Shelton also took home the trophy for Favorite Male Country Artist, marking his second consecutive win in the category. On November 6, 2017, he made Country Aircheck history when he became the first artist to chart six songs simultaneously, from his album Texoma Shore×Texoma Shore3 November 2017 · Studio albumSpotifyYouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 11 tracks1I'll Name the Dogs3:042At the House3:093Beside You Babe2:584Why Me3:285Money3:306Turnin' Me On4:507The Wave3:518Got the T-Shirt3:139Hangover Due4:0310When the Wine Wears Off2:5611I Lived It3:40.
On November 14, 2017, Shelton became the first country artist to be named People Magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, and is the second musician to receive the honor (the first being fellow The Voice coach Adam Levine). In 2016, Billboard released their list of "Greatest of All Time Country Artists" and recognized Shelton on the chart, ranking him at No. 50. Shelton also charted on Billboard's list of "Greatest of All Time Country Albums" and "Greatest of All Time Country Songs" with Based on a True Story... taking the position of No. 51 on the chart and "God Gave Me You×God Gave Me You25 July 2011 · SingleSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 1 track1God Gave Me You3:48" ranking at No. 80 on the chart, respectively.
In 2019, Billboard released their list of decade-end "Top Country Albums" and recognized Shelton on the chart, ranking him at No. 14 for Based on a True Story..., No. 24 for Reloaded: 20#1 Hits, No. 49 for If I'm Honest, and No. 50 for Red River Blue. Shelton also charted on Billboard's decade-end list of "Top Country Songs" with "God Gave Me You" ranking at No. 19 on the chart, "Honey Bee" ranking at No. 23, and "God's Country" taking the position of No. 26 on the chart. Shelton also charted on Billboard's decade-end list of "Top Billboard 200 Albums" with Based on a True Story... ranking at No. 51. Shelton ended 2019 on the Hot Country Songs chart with 52 entries, the most of any country artist this decade. At the 2020 CMT Music Awards, he won for best collaborative video for his duet "Nobody But You" with Gwen Stefani.

Personal life

Shelton married his longtime girlfriend Kaynette Gern on November 17, 2003. They divorced in 2006.
In 2005, Shelton met singer Miranda Lambert at the CMT's 100 Greatest Duets Concert. Lambert also sang background vocals on his cover of Michael Bublé's song, "Home", which became a number-one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. On May 9, 2010, after dating for four years, Shelton proposed to Lambert. Shelton and Lambert were married on May 14, 2011, in Boerne, Texas.
On January 17, 2012, Shelton's father, Dick, 71, died in Oklahoma, following a period of declining health. Shelton's brother, Richie, died in 1990 as a result of a car crash when Blake was 14 years old. Blake and Lambert wrote about Richie in Lambert's song, "Over You". The song was named CMA Song of the Year for 2012. It was also named Single Record and Song of the Year at the 2013 Academy of Country Music Awards.
On July 20, 2015, Shelton and Lambert announced their divorce. The couple released a statement, "This is not the future we envisioned and it is with heavy heart that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real family, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter." Their divorce was finalized later that same day.
In late 2015, it was announced that Shelton had started dating his colleague from The Voice, singer Gwen Stefani. Shelton said Stefani and he first bonded over their ongoing divorces in the summer of 2015 as they filmed the ninth season of The Voice, stating: "Gwen saved my life. 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."
Stefani and Shelton have collaborated on music numerous times since becoming a couple. In 2015, the musicians co-wrote the song "Go Ahead and Break My Heart" as they navigated the beginning of their relationship. The duet was featured on Shelton's 2016 album, If I'm Honest. In 2020, their duets "Nobody But You" and "Happy Anywhere" both reached number one on the Billboard US Country Airplay chart. They also collaborated on the song "You Make It Feel Like Christmas," featured on Stefani's 2017 holiday album of the same name.
In a January 2020 interview with Gayle King, Shelton said about Stefani: "You think you know what love is, and for me, I didn't until she came into my life." On October 27, 2020, Shelton and Stefani announced their engagement after five years of dating. The couple later shared more details, including that Shelton proposed to Stefani in front of her three children and other family members at a chapel on his property in Oklahoma. They married in that same chapel on July 3, 2021.
Through his marriage to Stefani, Shelton has three stepsons. In an interview with the Country Radio Seminar in March 2022, Shelton spoke positively about his role as a stepfather, stating, "Every day I've fallen in love with the boys as much as I do with Gwen."
In 2015, Forbes estimated Shelton's annual income at $28.5 million.
On June 6, 2017, HLN aired a special called Our Journeys Home, in which Shelton and HLN Morning Express host Robin Meade were revealed to be fourth cousins.
On October 12, 2019, Shelton officiated at the wedding of Trace Adkins and Canadian actress Victoria Pratt in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Philanthropy

In October 2013, Shelton donated $20,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation following a concert in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The donation was used to support the department's outdoor education programs. After the donation, Shelton said, "The Wildlife Department's youth education efforts are an important way to get kids back outdoors."
In September 2016, he donated $600,000 to the Jimmy Everest Center, a University of Oklahoma College of Medicine hospital for children with blood cancer and blood disorders. This donation followed a pair of Shelton's concerts in Oklahoma City, which generated the funds that he donated. Shelton claims he has a personal tie to the hospital as his cousin's daughter Aspen was diagnosed with cancer and treated at the facility. He created the Blake Shelton Cancer Research Program at that same hospital.
In February 2018, Shelton donated $50,000 to his hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma. He raised the money from ticket sales at his restaurant Ole Red.
On March 13, 2019, he performed a private concert at his Ole Red Gatlinburg location, celebrating its weeklong grand opening. Shelton earned $29,214 from ticket sales, and along with $25,000 from Ryman Hospitality Properties, donated the sum of $54,214 to the Gatlinburg-Pittman High School's music programs.
For a short time at the end of March 2020 into the beginning of April 2020, Shelton reduced the price of his merchandise and donated a portion of his sales to the MusiCares COVID-19 relief fund.
In April 2020, Shelton donated $150,000 to the "Give from Home Day" fundraiser, a partnership between Oklahoma City ABC affiliate news station KOCO 5 and the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma with the goal to help feed the hungry during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United States.

Record as coach on The Voice

Shelton was a coach on NBC's The Voice from its inception in 2011 until the twenty-third season in 2023. Shelton had been the most successful coach, having brought at least one artist from his team (for a total of 38) to the finale in almost every season (except season five), nine of which went on to win the season.