Blake Shelton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blake Shelton
Shelton in 2017
Born	Blake Tollison Shelton (1976-06-18) June 18, 1976 (age 49) Ada, Oklahoma, U.S.
Occupation	Singer songwriter television personality
Years active	2001–present
Spouse(s)	Kaynette Gern ​ ​ (m. 2003; div. 2006)​ Miranda Lambert ​ ​ (m. 2011; div. 2015)​ Gwen Stefani ​ (m. 2021)​
Musical career
Origin	Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres	Country
Instruments	Vocals guitar harmonium
Labels	Giant Warner Music Nashville Reprise Nashville Ten Point BBR Music Group Wheelhouse

Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is a famous American country singer, songwriter, and TV star. He started his music career in 2001 with his first song, "Austin." This song quickly became number one on the country music charts.

His first album, Blake Shelton, sold over a million copies. Over the years, Blake has released many successful albums and singles. He is known for having many number one hits on the country charts.

Besides music, Blake Shelton is also well-known for being a coach on the TV singing show The Voice. He was on the show from 2011 to 2023. Many singers from his team have won the competition.

Early Life and Music Start

Blake Tollison Shelton was born in Ada, Oklahoma. His mom owned a beauty salon, and his dad sold cars. Blake started singing when he was very young. By age 12, his uncle taught him how to play the guitar.

When he was 15, Blake wrote his first song. At 16, he won a special award in his home state. Sadly, when Blake was 14, his older brother, Richie, passed away in a car accident.

After finishing high school at 17, Blake moved to Nashville, Tennessee. This city is famous for country music. He wanted to become a singer. He got a job at a music company, and soon, he signed his first music contract.

Music Career Highlights

Early Success (2001–2006)

Shelton performing at the Crawford County Fair in Meadville, PA, in August 2005

Blake Shelton signed with Giant Records in Nashville. His first song, "Austin," was a big hit. It stayed at number one on the country charts for five weeks. After Giant Records closed, Blake moved to Warner Bros. Records.

His first album, also called Blake Shelton, became very popular. It included other hits like "All Over Me" and "Ol' Red." Even though "Ol' Red" wasn't a huge radio hit, Blake often sings it at his concerts.

Blake's next albums, The Dreamer (2003) and Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill (2004), also did very well. Songs like "The Baby" and "Some Beach" became number one hits. His music was even featured in a TV movie called The Christmas Blessing.

More Albums and TV Appearances (2006–2011)

Shelton at the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards

In 2007, Blake released his fourth album, Pure BS. This album had popular songs like "Don't Make Me" and "The More I Drink." He also started appearing on TV shows. He was a judge on Nashville Star and Clash of the Choirs.

A special version of Pure BS came out in 2008. It included his cover of Michael Bublé's song "Home," which also became a number one hit for Blake. He then released his fifth album, Startin' Fires.

Blake joined the Grand Ole Opry in 2010. This is a very special honor for country music artists. He also started his role as a coach on NBC's The Voice in 2011.

The Voice and Continued Hits (2011–2014)

Blake Shelton released the album Red River Blue in 2011. The first song from it, "Honey Bee," was very popular. It quickly became a gold-certified song. The album itself went to number one on the Billboard 200 chart.

Other songs from this album, like "God Gave Me You" and "Drink on It," also reached number one. Blake continued to have many successful songs, breaking records for consecutive number one hits.

On The Voice, Blake became a very successful coach. His team members won in seasons 2, 3, and 4. He performed at the Super Bowl XLVI in 2012 with his then-wife, Miranda Lambert. He also released a Christmas album called Cheers, It's Christmas.

In 2013, Blake released his album Based on a True Story.... It had hit songs like "Sure Be Cool If You Did" and "Boys 'Round Here." This album helped him break the record for the most consecutive number one singles on the Country Airplay chart.

More Success and Awards (2014–2018)

Shelton at the 2017 Warrior Games opening ceremony

Blake's ninth album, Bringing Back the Sunshine, came out in 2014. It featured several number one songs, including "Neon Light" and "Sangria." In 2014, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame.

He continued his winning streak on The Voice, with his team member Craig Wayne Boyd winning season seven. In 2016, Blake released his tenth album, If I'm Honest. This album included the song "Friends," which was the theme song for The Angry Birds Movie. Blake also voiced a character in the movie.

His wax figure was revealed at Madame Tussauds Nashville in 2017. Later that year, his album Texoma Shore was released.

Recent Music and The Voice Retirement (2019–Present)

In 2019, Blake released a collection of songs called Fully Loaded: God's Country. It included the hit song "God's Country" and duets with Trace Adkins and Gwen Stefani.

Blake continued to have winning artists on The Voice, securing his seventh, eighth, and ninth wins as a coach. In 2021, he released his twelfth studio album, Body Language.

In 2022, Blake announced his "Back to the Honky Tonk Tour." He also sold the rights to his music recordings from 2001–2019. In 2023, after many successful seasons, Blake Shelton retired from his coaching role on The Voice. In 2024, he signed with a new music label, BBR Music Group, and released a new song called "Texas."

Other Ventures

Blake Shelton is a partner in a chain of restaurants and entertainment places called Ole Red. The first Ole Red opened in his hometown of Tishomingo in 2017. Other locations have opened in cities like Nashville, Gatlinburg, Orlando, and Las Vegas. These places offer food, drinks, and live music.

Legacy and Impact

Blake Shelton is seen as a very important artist in country music. Many people, including other musicians, praise his singing and songwriting. He has helped bring country music to a wider audience.

He was inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2010 and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2014. These are big honors that show his lasting impact on music and his home state.

Achievements and Awards

Blake Shelton has won many awards throughout his career. He has received 10 Country Music Association Awards and six Academy of Country Music Awards. He also has many CMT Music Awards, People's Choice Awards, and American Music Awards.

For his work on The Voice, he received the NATPE Reality Breakthrough Award. Blake has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. He has sold over 10 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide.

His debut song "Austin" tied a record by staying at number one on the country charts for five weeks. He also set a record for the most first-week downloads for a male country singer with his song "Honey Bee." Blake broke a record for having the most consecutive number one singles on the Country Airplay chart. He is one of only a few country artists to reach number one on the Billboard Artist 100 chart.

In 2016, Billboard magazine listed him as one of the "Greatest of All Time Country Artists." His albums and songs have also been recognized on Billboard's decade-end charts. In 2020, he won a CMT Music Award for his duet "Nobody But You" with Gwen Stefani.

Personal Life

Blake Shelton married Kaynette Gern in 2003, and they divorced in 2006.

In 2005, Blake met singer Miranda Lambert at a concert. They started dating and got married on May 14, 2011. Blake and Miranda wrote a song together called "Over You," which won awards. In July 2015, Blake and Miranda announced their divorce.

Later in 2015, Blake started dating Gwen Stefani, who was also a coach on The Voice. They became close while going through their own divorces. Blake and Gwen have sung together on several songs, including "Nobody But You" and "Happy Anywhere." Both of these songs became number one hits.

Blake and Gwen announced their engagement in October 2020. They got married on July 3, 2021, at a chapel on Blake's property in Oklahoma. Blake is now a stepfather to Gwen's three children.

In 2017, it was discovered that Blake Shelton and TV host Robin Meade are distant cousins. In 2019, Blake officiated the wedding of his friend and fellow country singer Trace Adkins.

Giving Back

Blake Shelton is also known for his charity work. In 2013, he gave $20,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to help outdoor education programs for kids.

In 2016, he donated $600,000 to the Jimmy Everest Center, a hospital for children with blood cancer in Oklahoma. He created the Blake Shelton Cancer Research Program there. He has a personal connection to the hospital because his cousin's daughter was treated there.

Blake has also donated money from his Ole Red restaurants to local schools and food banks. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he helped raise money for relief funds and to feed people in need in Oklahoma.

Discography

Studio albums

• Blake Shelton (2001)
• The Dreamer (2003)
• Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill (2004)
• Pure BS (2007)
• Startin' Fires (2008)
• Red River Blue (2011)
• Cheers, It's Christmas (2012)
• Based on a True Story... (2013)
• Bringing Back the Sunshine (2014)
• If I'm Honest (2016)
• Texoma Shore (2017)
• Body Language (2021)

Tours

Headlining Tours

• Barn and Grill Tour (2005)
• Hillbilly Bone Tour (2010)
• All About Tonight Tour (2011)
• Well Lit & Amplified Tour (2012)
• Ten Times Crazier Tour (2013–2015)
• Blake Shelton 2016 Tour (2016)
• Doing It To Country Songs Tour (2017)
• Country Music Freaks Tour (2018)
• Friends and Heroes Tour (2019–2020)
• Back To The Honky Tonk Tour (2023)

Film and TV Appearances

The Voice Coaching Record

Blake Shelton was a coach on NBC's The Voice from 2011 to 2023. He was the coach with the most wins. He helped many singers reach the finale, and nine of them won their seasons.

See also

In Spanish: Blake Shelton para niños