Blake Shelton’s Morphed Into Dad Country & It’s Not An Entirely Terrible Thing
Grrrrrrr, Blake Shelton! He’s the guy who said that “Old Farts and Jackasses” thing and is on that stupid reality show! Plus we’re supposed to hate him if we like Miranda Lambert, or something. But if you believe in reform and forgiveness, Blake Shelton would be one of the select few who would be worthy of it in the mainstream.
Face it, Blake Shelton’s recent album Texoma Shore is pretty damn decent. Not great, but pretty decent. And the record saw Shelton turn a corner back towards the more traditional sound of his early career. Hell it may be the most traditional of his career, period. If you need any validation of how good it is, take into account it’s his worst-selling record to date, with the worst-performing radio singles. If country radio doesn’t like it, it’s probably a sure bet it’s pretty good.
At this point Blake Shelton is only a country star by proxy. His fans get all hot and bothered since he no longer gets nominated for any awards and stuff, but he spends half of his year on a set in Hollywood for The Voice. At some point, Blake Shelton made the conscious decision that the best move for his career was to the small screen, and he seems pretty happy with that. It means the industry hardware has stopped coming, and so have the big sales and automatic #1 radio singles. But he’s arguably a bigger superstar than anyone else in mainstream country, makes a boatload of money, and is recognized around the world without having to live out of a bus for much of the year. It’s good work if you can get it.
Blake Shelton will be going on a small tour called “Friends and Heroes” in 2019 though, and if you need any more validation that the once apex villain in the hearts and minds of many of country music’s traditional fans has turned a leaf, appreciate that he isn’t dragging Dylan Scott or Dan+Shay, or whatever mainstream country spare tire on tour with him. He’s taking John Anderson and The Bellamy Brothers on tour in 2019, along with Lauren Alaina and Trace Adkins. Who else in the mainstream can even name you a John Anderson song?
As artists like Keith Urban continue to color their gray and try to keep up with whatever contemporary bullshit is infesting mainstream country at the moment, Blake Shelton is busy becoming his dad, going grey and bringing it back to his roots. I really don’t have any good prognosis for the reason Blake Shelton has reversed course, and has gone from slamming “Old Farts and Jackasses” to booking them on his tours, but it beats the alternatives of either staying his course from a few years ago, or acting like Joe Diffie out there making an ass of himself trying his hand at tractor rap.
The 2013 “Old Farts and Jackasses” Blake Shelton would hate the 2018 “Booking John Anderson and the Bellamy Brothers on tour” Blake Shelton. And that’s a good thing.
November 1, 2018 @ 10:10 am
Would potentially be worth it to hear Seminole Wind be performed in an arena in Florida in 2019.
November 2, 2018 @ 9:52 am
It’d be worth it to hear Seminole Wind, period.
November 3, 2018 @ 7:31 am
Blake has covered Seminole Wind and it’s so damn good. The guy could always sing, it was the rest that was questionable.
November 1, 2018 @ 10:14 am
Blake also recently partnered with the Oak Ridge Boys on a song on a previous album.
November 1, 2018 @ 3:29 pm
That was so bad. I was surprised the Oaks did that. Doing it to a country song? Why?!
November 2, 2018 @ 4:43 am
Conrad- “Giddy up oom poppa omm poppa mow mow, Heigh-ho silver, away”
November 1, 2018 @ 10:23 am
Oh, so Blake is the old Fart and a Jackass?
November 1, 2018 @ 10:45 am
He ain’t stupid. And his early stuff was legitimately good. Glad to see the “Sexiest Man Alive” swinging back around to something resembling country music. Good for him.
November 1, 2018 @ 11:10 am
Chew tobacco, chew tobacco, chew tobacco, spit. ‘Nuff said.
November 5, 2018 @ 11:03 am
Yeah, it will take some time to forgive that and a lifetime to forget it. Not to mention the whole “red-red-red-red-redneck” thing.
November 1, 2018 @ 11:10 am
That’s awesome, John Anderson is fantastic. This will get a lot of Blake lovers to discover a country great!
November 1, 2018 @ 2:45 pm
Bellamy Brothers ain’t bad either- or Trace Adkins for that matter.
November 1, 2018 @ 3:22 pm
So glad SCM commenters will finally check out Bill Bellamy.
November 2, 2018 @ 11:13 am
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vNVguvNE7qc
I only 30% agree. Doesn’t get much better than Ain’t No Thinkin Thing, but he had a good plenty of abominations and upon seeing him live a couple years ago it seemed the beats to his old hits have changed somehow… and there’s a creepy luke bryan hip shake on every song now: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsJO4RwZSTk cringeworthy
November 1, 2018 @ 11:19 am
How much his people paying you to kiss his ass now?
November 1, 2018 @ 11:25 am
Your momma.
November 1, 2018 @ 3:54 pm
Guess Blake is going to play Country Boy this go around…I’m happy he is , from his looks(I don’t mean doctored picture above) Hollywood has been hard on him. He has aged terrible in looks since he went to Hollywood. He does get radio play, but the songs he comes out with are quickly forgotten if you aren’t a Stefani Fans. Don’t tell TxMusic, I’d guess Blake has already listened to The Annies new album and liked it.Trigger thanks for the JAMIELIN ARTICLE, AS I remarked I’m a new fan of her music.
November 1, 2018 @ 7:15 pm
Oh Patty. Sod off. who cares about Miranda or the Pistol Annies album. Have you seen Blake in person? He looks great. Sounds great. He and Gwen are in Kansas right now with the McMillans. Doubt that album is on their radar. Why do you drag Miranda into every conversation. She’s not on his radar. He’s not on hers. Get over it. Sorry Trig. But aren’t you tired of this?
November 2, 2018 @ 11:07 am
Hi Sammi! Yes, I’ve seen Blake Many times. He is now looking like an old man, take my word for it, I’ll not hold it against him Yes, I’ve seen Jackie has saddled up a horse for the older one to ride. Looked like she is a regular Cowgirl. Where in the he** is the little blue cowgirl suit. Bet you know? I’d love to be a fly on the wall after Blake takes her back to Hollywood to her 5hrs make up session.( As Tom has remarked more times than one, Jackie and Miranda are Great Friends), must be reason you are telling me they are in Kansas. I’d guess going to Kansas with Blake, probably was for the best. Trigger can read, he sees I made no mention of your name until you popped up.i’M sure you would like for me to stay away from this site, let you hate on Miranda without a come back. You don’t like her, but you can’t keep your mouth shut when you see she has fans that do. By the way knowing Blake he’s probably sitting in a deer stand listening to The Pistol Annies’s new music.( He and Ashley are on same record label) Get off my radar, seems to be your favorite word as of today.Hop on someone else’s! By the way say hi to Tom on your next hunt trip.for that white tail….This is my last comment on this site. Keep your hate spewing for Miranda. Your not interested in music….its plain to see.
November 2, 2018 @ 12:08 pm
“This is my last comment on this site.”
Praise the Lord!
November 5, 2018 @ 11:06 am
You’re. Not your, you’re.
November 4, 2018 @ 6:45 am
Trigger,
Mom jokes are sexist, which makes you a sexist piece of crap.
November 1, 2018 @ 11:23 am
I wouldn’t pay to see Blake Shelton if Waylon freaking Jennings himself opened for him.
His recent album isn’t selling because it’s awful. and not the kind of awful that mountain-dew-vape-juice-smoking teenagers like the way they like FGL or Luke Bryan.
He’s pissed off Traditional Country Fans and the dumb meathead wallet chain crowd moved on to Kane Brown and he’s stuck in the middle, only popular because of a tv show that is seeing failing numbers just like the rest of television.
“waaaah, my record isn’t selling, waaaah, I bet those old farts will forgive me if they think I’m one of them”
But the forests were shrinking because the trees voted for the axe. they saw its handle was made of wood and they thought it was one of them.
This guy is an embarrassment to the music industry. he can hardly sing, acts like a macho dude-bro, talks out his aft-end and pretends to be a know it all.
Do we as Country Music fans not have boundaries anymore?
Are we just letting people like him walk all over us because “that was five years ago he’s different now?”
November 1, 2018 @ 4:54 pm
All due respect, Fuzz, this might be the dumbest thing I’ve heard of since a man leaving his wife alone with Conway Twitty. Blake is a classic all timer.
Bama -15
Georgia -8.5
Florida -6
November 1, 2018 @ 11:33 am
I think Blake is a pretty savvy businessman first and foremost. He’s done/doing the TV gig, did the George and Tammy marriage and split up gig, made the cover of People magazine and now he’s taking a page out of Chris Stapleton’s playbook for arena acts attaching themselves to predominantly traditional country opening acts. Gonna try to get to Buffalo in February to see John Anderson. Might even stick around for Blake hoping he performs Ol’ Red.
November 1, 2018 @ 11:35 am
I have to say that “I Lived it” was for sure my favorite Blake Shelton song ever, not that I like a lot of his songs. I will say this though and this goes back to the whole separating music from the person. Two separate occasions I was somewhere that he and Miranda were at, once t Gruene Hall and there were maybe thirty people there on a Wednesday night and he was unbelievable nice and down to earth. He was by far the nicer of the two and seemed much more grounded. I didn’t talk to him, but watched as he interacted with people coming up to him. Earl Thomas Conley was there and it was not a big crowd. Conley seemed to be hurting a little bit that night and Blake got up on stage and helped with a couple of songs and it looked like Earl Thomas appreciated being able to back off a little and rest. I would definitely go see the leg of the tour with John Anderson and the Bellamy Brothers.
November 1, 2018 @ 12:01 pm
I am confused about which song on Texoma Shore is not a steaming pile. At one point, Blake had some awesome potential and he blew it. Just like some other promising artists (Chris Young, Easton Corbin and now maybe William Michael Morgan). I mean the dude used to cover Chris Knight on cd’s and now he’s trying to turn on suburban moms with nonsense. I couldn’t make it through the first 15 seconds of gimmicky production on any of the songs on the album…I need to cleanse with some Turnpike.
November 1, 2018 @ 12:53 pm
“Money” is a steaming pile. There’s a few other pretty poor songs. But songs like “I Lived It,” “Got The T-Shirt,” and others are pretty good. It’s not a great album. But it’s a big step in the right direction for Blake Shelton and mainstream country, just like this tour lineup is.
November 1, 2018 @ 6:38 pm
I almost liked your comment, until I got to the very last sentence.
November 1, 2018 @ 9:07 pm
Thanks for the negativity. TT was a great find that trigger introduced me to. I am still waiting for you to introduce me to something good. All your negativeness is rotting you from the inside out. You’ll be brundlefly soon, enjoy the disintegration.
November 1, 2018 @ 12:25 pm
Meh. I’m a gray-haired dad and I’m not interested.
I do really like the new Asleep at the Wheel, though.
November 1, 2018 @ 1:21 pm
In several recent interviews he seems very self aware and comfortable living the family life and no longer chasing the trends in country music. I know most people think he went “Hollywood” but if your a true fan of his and have watched him over the years he seems very at peace with where his life and career is. Good for Blake, keep the (semi) traditional hits coming.
November 1, 2018 @ 1:38 pm
Ummm , , Blake still gets ton of radio support. He had 3 singles off of Texoma Shores…. all hits. I’ll name The Dogs went #1. Current single Turning Me On is in top 20 and climbing. Plus it’s only been on radio for 12 weeks. It will definitely go #1. I Lived It went #2 I believe. That’s still great.
Now the album sales is another thing. But he’s had a ton of success in terms of radio singles with this current album, unlike what u alluded to in the article.
November 1, 2018 @ 1:46 pm
All of Blake Shelton’s previous records dating back to 2011 had at least four #1’s, and many five of them. “Texoma Shore” has already had the second single stall out at #3, and may not see another #1, we’ll see. Of course he’s still receiving support at radio, but it’s definitely waning, similar to his attention from awards shows.
November 2, 2018 @ 6:53 am
When anything from his last two albums is on, I change the channel. Just can’t stand his music any more.
November 1, 2018 @ 1:44 pm
‘If country radio doesn’t like it, it’s probably a sure bet it’s pretty good.’
”I really don’t have any good prognosis for the reason Blake Shelton has reversed course, and has gone from slamming “Old Farts and Jackasses” to booking them on his tours……..”
SOOOO dead on Trigger !..lol
I’ll confess , Blake is a hard guy not to like. But his music isn’t .
His stuff these days is not even on my ‘ maybe ‘ radar when it comes to mainstream although his earlier stuff had me interested . And saying that his last album was an improvement is like saying ” well I guess I’d rather be exposed to the swine flu than the black plague ‘” . Yeah …couple decent tracks , I’ll give him that . But overall……nope .
I’ll admit to not hating his voice but there is SO MUCH good material I think he could tap into if he wasn’t chasing a hit . Maybe John Anderson will help him see the light .
November 1, 2018 @ 2:02 pm
Older and fartier is the future, Blake old boy.
November 1, 2018 @ 2:58 pm
For everyone making negative comments, if NBC offered you a God-zillion amount of money to be a judge that is, for the most part, pre-taped until it gets to the finals, would you turn away? These singers might not be going the route of Waylon and Willie, but be successful sometimes makes me sense than continue to crank out a new album and live on a tour bus after you reach 40 years old. Cue, Luke Bryan.
November 1, 2018 @ 3:46 pm
I’m not ripping. Everyone has to make buck. But it shows poor judgment to rip on the tastes of older folks when you will, if you’re lucky, become an older folk person yourself.
Blake should age out like he should and embrace it. I hope he sees fit to go sit in a rocker at that Country Family thing. Join the Circle. He’s going to die just like the rest of us old farts and jackasses. Might as well do it like a man.
I’m feeling generous, so maybe I’ll go so far as to say Blake’s job at the Voice is about cultivating the next generation the best way he knows how. I think his time would be better spent in workshops, but I don’t have his monthly mortgage.
November 2, 2018 @ 9:15 am
He isn’t fit the mop the floors after a taping of CFR.
November 1, 2018 @ 3:20 pm
Trigger is the most dangerous, most deceptive blogger in the overall country music world right now.
November 1, 2018 @ 4:23 pm
This comment was last relevant during the first Obama Administration. Don’t you have an InfoWars podcast to peep?
November 1, 2018 @ 4:38 pm
Admit it, Trig. You are a Russian agent and have a secretary named Nastasha whose code name is “Nikki Lane.”
November 1, 2018 @ 4:52 pm
The comment remains relevant as long as your chub for pop country music remains hard.
November 1, 2018 @ 5:40 pm
Don’t you have a hate group on Facebook to make meme’s for? I’m not going to apologize for being happy that John Anderson gets to play for arenas.
November 1, 2018 @ 7:34 pm
Don’t have a Facebook. Thought this was the “off color pop country bashing” hate group. I’ve obviously come to the wrong place.
November 1, 2018 @ 7:57 pm
Yes, and there’s a time to bash, and a time to give credit where credit is due. The reason we criticize artists such as Blake Shelton is not to feel superior, it’s to hope that it inspires change in the marketplace. Blake Shelton has gone from criticizing “Old Farts and Jackasses” in his public comments to booking them on his arena tour. This is progress. Does that mean we should kiss Blake Shelton’s ass? Of course not. But this is what we’ve been clamoring for, for country legends to be given the same opportunities as contemporary artists, and that is what Blake Shelton has done here. You still don’t like him? I totally understand. I’m not trying to convince anyone to be a Blake Shelton fan. But if you’re not willing to give him credit for doing the right thing when he does, you’re a hypocrite, and there will never be progress for traditional country artists, or their fans.
November 2, 2018 @ 9:10 am
I’m not a hypocrite. I’m just not a pushover, weak-spined yes-man who forgives and forgets just because somebody tries to pull a fast one on him.
If Blake Shelton didn’t respect Classic Country Music five years ago, what changed his mind?
Why no public apology?
It’s a sham, a farce, is what it is.
A cash grab by an arrogant, ego-bloated money-lusting oaf.
I’m not giving him credit for “helping” Country Music when he’s done more damage to it than booking John Anderson can fix.
You can’t just break every window in my house, replace one and tell me you helped me.
I won’t buy it.
And neither should Country fans
November 2, 2018 @ 12:23 pm
Fuzzy gets it.
November 2, 2018 @ 5:59 am
LOL- envy is the greatest form of flattery.
November 1, 2018 @ 3:50 pm
Well, he was already a “jackass”, and the “old fart” part is coming soon enough, so this was expected at least to a degree.
November 1, 2018 @ 3:52 pm
Anyone who’s actually mad at the old farts comment has a giant dump in their pants
November 1, 2018 @ 4:07 pm
And “you’re just a poopy-head.”
November 3, 2018 @ 5:36 pm
For heaven sakes people just get over the old farts comment already or find a safe space and some crayons for yourself or a better choice, grow up and forgive. I guess people who bring that one comment up over and over again must have never, ever said the wrong thing or ever made any kind of mistake in their life that they can feel so smug and unforgiving. Country legends are not gods to be worshipped
and if you dare speak against them, you are banished from the kingdom forever. The grudge towards Blake is just over the top. Btw I love Texoma Shore, especially I Lived It. It moves me and that’s what I want from music, Why Me and TMO are favorites as well.
November 4, 2018 @ 8:27 pm
As far as I’m concerned, if Flake Shelton has a problem with the kind of music I like, he shouldn’t be in the business of trying to tell me that a hog is a cow and make me listen to something different.
If he has a problem with Country Music, why make it?
If you don’t like tacos, don’t go to Mexico, if you don’t like Borscht, don’t eat Borscht.
Don’t like Shostakovich? don’t listen to it.
But don’t try to replace my Borscht with apple cider just because YOU think apple cider is better.
And Flake Shelton can either make music I want to buy or not make music I wanna buy, but to act like he’s entitled to my money or I’m SUPPOSED to like his music because he calls it Country Music is ridiculous.
If I wanted to go to the Circus I’d buy a ticket.
But if I checked into a Super 8 and found out it was a circus because “this is what Super 8s are like now” I’d be pretty steamed and ask for my money back.
Because if I spent my money checking into a Super 8, it’s right where I wanted to be.
And if my dial was on the Country Station, it’s because I wanted Country Music, and if I didn’t want Country Music, I wouldn’t have put the dial there in the first place.
I don’t buy cantaloupes because I don’t like them.
I buy bananas because I do like them.
But you don’t see me running around at the supermarket trying to put bananas where the cantaloupes go just because I think bananas are better.
If somebody else likes a cantaloupe that’s their own blasted business and they can keep their cantaloupes and leave me to my bananas.
And I wish musicians felt the same way instead of trying make everyone like everything
November 1, 2018 @ 4:06 pm
Blake is 100x better than the music he has put out in the last five years. As a fan (former maybe) its frustrating to listen to these albums when you know the guy is so much more talented that that. He could be making some amazing country music and it would likely be played on the radio because of who is so he could IMO really be a part of getting country radio back country. But no he’d rather sit on his ass in HW playing “Daddy coach”!!
November 1, 2018 @ 4:22 pm
I don’t think anyone can argue Blake has ever shown any music genius over his career. Austin and Red were decent songs and “Sure Be Cool If You Did” is a guilty pleasure for me, but he’s just so gosh darn likeable that I never hate on him. I really feel like “old farts and jackasses” was more tongue-in-cheek than malicious. He’s that good ole boy type that a lot of us can relate too. And John Anderson is the man! That guy still sounds just as good as he did in the 70’s.
November 1, 2018 @ 4:37 pm
Glad that John Anderson is going out on a major tour again. His work with James Stroud in the early to mid-90’s was incredible, he’s probably one of the few singers in country music history to have had a legitimate second wind career resurgence.
November 1, 2018 @ 5:15 pm
Blake Shelton has done nothing but harm to C(c)ountry Music. May urine be his drink, and feces his supper.
November 1, 2018 @ 7:42 pm
May cyanide be your drink and…goddamn it you’re right Honk. But still…you’re an asshole.
November 1, 2018 @ 8:12 pm
You want me dead? Dang, man.
November 1, 2018 @ 8:25 pm
I’m just playing sir. Stay healthy.
November 1, 2018 @ 6:37 pm
Well the boys around here don’t listen to The Beatles….
I never listened to his shit but that was all I ever needed to hear. Dallas and Blake make a good pair tho
November 1, 2018 @ 6:42 pm
I hate Blake Shelton and Beatles.
November 1, 2018 @ 7:24 pm
Boy, you really are an old fart and jackass. You do realize you are exactly what he, Luke Bryan and others were talking about. And he wasn’t talking about artists before him. It’s you. But you’re going to miss him when he’s gone boyo. Because the next generation is not traditional at all.
November 1, 2018 @ 8:10 pm
Why would I miss him? I haven’t listened to the radio in 2 decades. I’ve acknowledged C(c)ountry Music’s death. Don’t you know who you’re talking to, boyo?
November 1, 2018 @ 7:24 pm
Regardless, exposing the audience to John Anderson and the Bellamy’s is a good thing. Look at the positives for heaven’s sake.
Just like Stapleton exposing Marty and the Fab’s. It’s a great thing.
November 2, 2018 @ 6:21 am
I do see this as a good sign. If country music swings back to traditional, then this kind of thing needs to happen. I just wish the quality was better. They must have driven every good songwriter into the weeds/grave these last few decades.
I would like for BS to eat a bag of dicks, but Samuel is right–the next generation of mainstream artists is not traditional. So this is at least something. Not a good something, but a not-bad something.
Hopefully the trend of non-mainstream artists having success continues. That’s where the future lies.
November 2, 2018 @ 7:44 am
I don’t know why Blake fans would be mad at the lack of recent awards. He had his run of winning every award in sight and men have a faster turn over rate than women in country. It’s naive to think any of the country award shows give out awards based on merit. It’s whomever the industry wants to push.
November 2, 2018 @ 8:23 am
A turd is still a turd, even if you give it a little bit of polish. I haven’t heard his newer album, but I agree that if it is indeed marginally less annoying than his other work, and it’s getting some play on mainstream radio, that’s at least a good thing.
November 2, 2018 @ 8:39 am
It is a step in the right direction.
Anything that improves the overall “quality” of mainstream country music is a good thing.
November 2, 2018 @ 10:13 am
I doubt I’ll ever be a fan but one less person making horrible crappy music is still a step in the right direction.
November 2, 2018 @ 4:05 pm
Not sure how this will tie into the tour; but Blake Shelton just released a “new” song on Itunes (probably everywhere else also) – “Tequila Sheila” album (Friends and Heroes Session). I doubt this will make people go search Bobby Bare, but if this is what Blake’s plans include this year consider me in!
November 16, 2018 @ 8:04 am
And now we have “The King Is Gone (So Are You)”. I can’t find anything online going into detail of this Friends and Heroes Session project, but he is 2 for 2 so far. I know sometimes covers can come across weak especially since the originals are typically the standard. But man Blake is doing these songs justice.
November 2, 2018 @ 5:40 pm
1) He’s a sellout, plain and simple. Decided to make a buck instead of making good music. He decided cashing in on his voice/looks/charisma was a better life than starving making good music.
2) He clearly likes genuine country music. Unlike most of the sellouts in Nashville, I always got the feeling after he’s done playing watered down drivel he turns on Whitley and Conlee, and Gosdin.
3) His sellout material was always more forgettable than bad (more Chris Young than Luke Bryan).
4) He doubled down on his selling out by ditching Nashville for Hollywood. He decided being the token “country boy” caricature in Hollywood was a better deal than a run of the mill Nashville A-lister. Good career move.
5) The old farts and jackasses comment was overblown by over-sensitive people. I call my friends jackasses all the time. I always took it as a no-bs explanation for why he was making boring crappy music. It’s how he talks.
It seems like he’s a genuine country boy being pretty transparent that he’s in it for the money. He’s mostly a waste of talent, but it’s hard for me to hate him for that.
November 3, 2018 @ 7:56 am
Look I’ve always liked Blake. I feel like he got lost during the Miranda years but he seems back to guy I used to love. And can we just set the record straight on the old farts comment. It’s constantly taken out of context. He was saying the people buying music will ultimately determine what’s played and he was right. Poorly worded but it was a good soundbite for everyone who hated him for being the epitome of bro country, which he was.
I have family members that love Blake and I’ve seen him in concert. He’s a human jukebox of classic country. He’s a self-deprecating and funny guy. And he doesn’t dye his hair or wear tight jeans and tee shirts. He doesn’t look like my 8th grade, female gym teacher, and sadly, so many others in today’s country do. Hi Keith. Texoma Shore is the first Blake album I threw into a playlist, minus Money, horrible song, since his first album.
You have tons of Miranda stans here that will bash Blake until their last breathe but they are, as you’ve pointed out, fanatics. They are in both sides. But Blake seems ready to step away from mainstream country to me. He hardly promotes anything and he’s building up businesses to generate his income once he really rolls it back. I’m guessing he wants that to be soon. And who will take his place on the Voice once he decides he’s done? Will that person give the audience of millions so much classic country? Blake always does. I’m afraid of who comes next and what they will wax on about. I’m doubting it will be who played session guitar on an Earl Thomas Conley cut like we get now from Blake on the Voice. He’s not faking loving country music, he really does love it.
Frankly, I’m scared for what America will see and hear about country from the next coach and I’m thinking Blake is trying to wrap up his Voice career. He doesn’t seem to care if sells or hits #1 anymore. He doing what he wants now. WMN has brought on other flagship artists and he doesn’t feel responsible as much now. Still, I say keep the hayseed in his red chair as long as possible.
November 3, 2018 @ 8:48 am
THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE BELLAMY BROTHERS HAVE BEEN MENTIONED ON THIS SITE. #progress
November 3, 2018 @ 10:22 am
If you had any doubt that Blake Shelton loves country music , that would be gone if you had been st his free, thanks to Smithworks, concert at Billy Bob’s in Fort Worth recently. He covered country songs I could even barely remember and he did it for hours and sounded great. Oh and his band is incredible. I grew up in East Tx and never heard anything but Country Music till I was almost 20 and I love Blake Shelton. He feels like home to me.
November 4, 2018 @ 9:45 am
I’ve always like a few tracks from each Shelton album, and hated others. His newest album has more winners than losers for me, but as usual my biggest gripe is his complete lack of involvement in the songwriting, while claiming as he did on the previous album that it’s one of his most personal releases. Songs like “I Lived It” lose a lot of their depth when you realize that in truth he didn’t.
November 4, 2018 @ 2:37 pm
I’ve thought Blake’s voice has been one of the best in mainstream Country music. He’s been one of my favorite male Country Artists to listen to.
When legendary Barbra Streisand asks you to be on her “Partners” Album, you have talent. (And she probably likes you as a person).
When well-known Country Artists like him, take on tour lesser-known Artists, a lot of fans like myself take notice– for the decency of it, to give others a ‘leg up’, and curiosity for the Artists we might not otherwise have heard of.
I’ve been surprised he’s stayed on ‘The Voice’ so long, and without a break. I remember what Christina said after @2 seasons, that she wanted to leave the show, to get back to being an Artist, to have more to give as a coach. I think it’s hard to maintain a career in music the same, while having to dedicate so much time to a show like that.
No Grrrrrrr, but I think Miranda’s fans still find it hard to see him with someone else. We were a fan of them as a ‘couple’, also. And it’s like when you have a friend who was with someone (9-10 yrs this was), it’s weird enough to see them apart, but to see the guy with someone else, weirder still.
November 4, 2018 @ 8:43 pm
Trigger. What do you think of new Pistol Annies album??
November 4, 2018 @ 10:01 pm
There will probably be a review soon.
November 7, 2018 @ 5:42 am
You guys are full of crap. Blake Shelton has done more to promote country music than anyone, with the exception of Chris Stapleton. He’s a great artist and you’re choking on the fact that America loves him. He stays on The Voice because they are paying him a truckload of money-and he enjoys working with young talent; also his girlfriend lives there. I am so sick of Miranda fans dissing Blake. She ended the marriage by cheating-a pathological pattern. Time to leave her where Blake has-in the past. Why do they blame Blake for Miranda’s problems. Leave him alone-he’s going to do what he wants and he doesn’t care what you think.
November 7, 2018 @ 10:52 am
Blake Shelton doesn’t promote Country Music for the same reason that Burger King doesn’t promote Arby’s!!
He doesn’t work with young talent at all on the voice because there is no young talent, just a bunch of posers and airheads who think that you have to hit high notes and hold notes longest to be good singers! It’s like guitar players who can shred but have no concept of rhythm and can’t form basic chords because they neglected the basics trying to look cool!
If he doesn’t care what people think he wouldn’t constantly be trying to convince people to buy his records. He’s a textbook apologist who wants people to buy his music whether or not they like it because “it’s what I do and I deserve to be recognized for it.”
If I wanted to listen to it, I would.
But him telling me to is not going to change my mind.