The Complete Guide to Blake Shelton—Country Singer, Songwriter and TV Personality
One of the most popular faces in country music and beyond, Blake Shelton has been a staple in American entertainment culture since 2001. He is best known as one of the judges on NBC’s singing competition The Voice, but his impressive career extends far beyond that. From his beginnings as a musician in Oklahoma to becoming a Grammy-nominated artist to his humanitarian efforts, learn all about this prolific artist with this guide to Blake Shelton.
Biography
Blake Shelton was born in Ada, Oklahoma in 1976. He was raised by his mom, who instilled in him an appreciation for music from a young age. He began performing in bars in Oklahoma when he was 16, where he was the youngest singer around. He was eventually discovered by producer Bobby Braddock, who introduced Shelton to executives at Warner Bros. Records in Nashville.
Shelton released his self-titled debut album in 2001, and his single “Austin” topped the Billboard country music chart in June of that year. He’s since earned a massive 28 number one singles on the Billboard country music chart—the second-most of any artist in the US. He has also been nominated for 10 Grammy Awards and 16 Country Music Association Awards—the most of any artist in the genre by far.
Musical Career
Over the course of his nearly 20-year musical career, Blake Shelton has had two major record labels—Warner Bros. Records, where he released his self-titled debut in 2001, and Reprise Records, where he began his career in the mid-2000s. Throughout his career, Shelton has released 11 studio albums, 2 extended plays and 2 live albums. He has also compiled 10 compilation albums, featuring several of his most popular songs.
Shelton’s discography comprises a total of 36 singles, including 28 number one singles on the Billboard country chart. His most successful songs include “Austin”, “Ol’ Red”, “Some Beach”, “Honey Bee” and “God Gave Me You”. He won the Country Music Association Award for “Album of the Year” in 2008, making him the only artist to ever win the award twice. He has also collaborated with other country music icons, such as Trace Adkins, Kenny Chesney, Miranda Lambert and Reba McEntire.
Collaborations
As previously mentioned, Blake Shelton has collaborated with some of the biggest names in country music throughout his career. He has not only collaborated with artists, but also with television and film. Shelton’s most famous collaboration is undoubtedly his role as one of the judges on NBC’s singing competition The Voice, where he’s served as a judge since 2011. In 2019, he voiced the character of a construction worker named Earl in the animated film UglyDolls. Shelton also starred in the Netflix original movie UglyDolls: Acoustic Christmas, where he plays the main character.
Humanitarian Efforts
Apart from his musical career, Blake Shelton is a major supporter of humanitarian efforts. He was an ambassador for the 2015 Save the Music Foundation, a charity that raises money to provide students with access to instruments in school. He’s also hosted the annual CMT Crossroads event since 2008, which benefits the charity Operation Homefront.
In 2011, Shelton and his ex-wife Miranda Lambert founded a charity called the Animal Rescue Foundation, which works to find homes for homeless pets. He has also been a long-time supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee, and spoke at the hospital’s annual Thank You Dinner in 2020.
Overall, there’s no denying that Blake Shelton is an incredibly successful artist and person. From his start as an aspiring musician in Oklahoma to becoming one of the most successful country singers of all time, his career is truly inspiring. He’s used his platform for good, collaborating with numerous artists, television shows and films, and supporting humanitarian efforts such as Operation Homefront and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Thanks to his talent, ambition and heart, Shelton is truly a powerhouse in the entertainment industry.
