Blake Shelton facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Blake Shelton
Shelton performing at Soldier Field 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 Wheelhouse

Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is a popular American country singer, songwriter, and television star. He started his music journey in 2001 with his first song, "Austin." This song quickly became a number one hit. His first album, also called Blake Shelton, sold very well.

Over the years, Blake Shelton has released many successful albums and singles. He has had 30 songs reach number one on the country music charts. He has also been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. Besides music, Blake is famous for being a coach on the TV singing competition The Voice from 2011 to 2023. His team won the show nine times! In 2024, he joined a new music company, BBR Music Group.

Blake Shelton's Early Life and Dreams

Blake Tollison Shelton was born in Ada, Oklahoma, on June 18, 1976. His mom, Dorothy, owned a beauty salon, and his dad, Richard, sold cars. Blake loved music from a young age. When he was 12, his uncle taught him to play the guitar. By 15, he had already written his first song! He even won an award in Oklahoma when he was 16.

Blake faced a sad time when his older brother, Richie, passed away in 1990 at the age of 24. After finishing high school at 17, Blake moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to chase his dream of becoming a singer. He worked at a music company and eventually got a music contract with Sony Music in 1997.

Blake Shelton's Music Career Highlights

Blake Shelton performing in 2005

After moving to Nashville, Blake signed with Giant Records. In 2001, his first single, "Austin," became a huge hit, reaching number one on the country charts for five weeks! Soon after, he moved to Warner Bros. Records. His first album, Blake Shelton, was a big success and included other popular songs like "Ol' Red," which is still a favorite at his concerts.

His second album, The Dreamer (2003), also had a number-one hit called "The Baby." In 2004, he released Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill, which featured another chart-topping song, "Some Beach." Blake's songs even appeared in the TV movie The Christmas Blessing in 2005, where he made a small appearance.

More Albums and Chart Toppers

Blake Shelton at the Academy of Country Music Awards in 2010

In 2007, Blake released his fourth album, Pure BS. This album included hits like "Don't Make Me" and "The More I Drink." A special version of the album in 2008 featured his popular cover of Michael Bublé's song "Home," which also became a number-one hit.

His fifth album, Startin' Fires, came out in 2008. It included the hit "She Wouldn't Be Gone." Blake also released EPs (shorter albums) like Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight in 2010. The song "Hillbilly Bone" with Trace Adkins became another number one. In 2010, Blake was invited to join the famous Grand Ole Opry, a big honor for country music artists.

Blake Shelton: From Music Star to TV Coach

Blake Shelton at the 2017 Warrior Games opening ceremony

In 2011, Blake released his album Red River Blue, which featured the smash hit "Honey Bee." This song quickly became his ninth number-one hit. The album also included other chart-toppers like "God Gave Me You" and "Drink on It."

A big change in Blake's career happened in 2011 when he became a coach on the NBC show The Voice. He was a coach for 23 seasons, from 2011 to 2023. His team won the competition nine times, making him the most successful coach on the show! He helped many talented singers achieve their dreams.

Continued Success with Albums and Collaborations

Blake released his first Christmas album, Cheers, It's Christmas, in 2012. In 2013, his album Based on a True Story... came out, featuring number-one singles like "Sure Be Cool If You Did" and "Boys 'Round Here." This album helped him break a record for the most consecutive number-one singles on the Country Airplay chart.

His ninth album, Bringing Back the Sunshine, was released in 2014 and included four more number-one hits. In 2016, he released If I'm Honest, which featured the popular song "Came Here to Forget." Blake also voiced a character named Earl in The Angry Birds Movie and hosted the 2016 Kids' Choice Awards.

In 2017, Blake released his album Texoma Shore. He continued to release new music, including the compilation album Fully Loaded: God's Country in 2019, which had the hit song "God's Country." He also collaborated with his wife, Gwen Stefani, on songs like "Nobody but You" and "Happy Anywhere." His 12th studio album, Body Language, came out in 2021. In 2024, Blake released new music, including "Purple Irises" with Gwen Stefani and "Pour Me a Drink" with Post Malone. He also signed with BBR Music Group and released his 13th album, For Recreational Use Only, in 2025, which included his 30th number-one country single, "Stay Country or Die Tryin'."

Other Ventures

Blake Shelton is a partner in a chain of restaurants and entertainment spots called Ole Red. These places are named after his famous song, "Ol' Red." The first Ole Red opened in his hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, in 2017. Other locations have opened in cities like Nashville, Tennessee, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, Orlando, Florida, and Las Vegas Strip.

Blake Shelton's Legacy and Impact

Blake Shelton is seen as a very important person in country music, helping to bring it to a wider audience. Rolling Stone magazine called him "one of country music's biggest stars." Many other artists, like Trace Adkins and Sheryl Crow, have praised his talent and influence.

Blake was honored by being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry in 2010 and the Oklahoma Hall of Fame in 2014.

Achievements and Awards

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

In 2010, he became a member of the Grand Ole Opry, which is a huge honor in country music. In 2014, he was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame. For his work on The Voice, he won the NATPE Reality Breakthrough Award in 2017. Blake has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards.

Blake has sold over 10 million albums and more than 30 million singles worldwide. His debut single "Austin" stayed at number one on the country charts for five weeks, setting a record. In 2017, he became the first country artist to win the People's Choice Awards' Favorite Album. In 2017, he also made history by having six songs from his album Texoma Shore on the country charts at the same time.

Blake Shelton's Personal Life

Blake was married to Kaynette Gern from 2003 to 2006. He later married singer Miranda Lambert in 2011, and they were together until 2015. Blake experienced personal losses, including the passing of his father, Dick, in 2012, and his older brother, Richie, in 1990. He and Miranda Lambert wrote a song called "Over You" about Richie.

In late 2015, Blake started dating his fellow The Voice coach, singer Gwen Stefani. They found comfort in each other as they both went through divorces around the same time. Blake and Gwen often sing together and have released popular duets like "Nobody But You" and "Happy Anywhere." They also collaborated on the Christmas song "You Make It Feel Like Christmas."

Blake and Gwen Stefani got engaged in October 2020 and were married on July 3, 2021. Blake is also a proud stepfather to Gwen's three children, saying he loves them as much as he loves Gwen.

Blake Shelton's Philanthropy

Blake Shelton is also known for his generous heart and support for various causes.

• In 2013, he donated $20,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation to help with outdoor education programs for kids.
• In 2016, he gave $600,000 to the Jimmy Everest Center, a hospital for children with blood cancer in Oklahoma. This donation helped create the Blake Shelton Cancer Research Program.
• In 2018, he donated $50,000 to his hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, from ticket sales at his Ole Red restaurant.
• In 2019, he donated over $54,000 to music programs at Gatlinburg-Pittman High School.
• In 2020, Blake supported the MusiCares COVID-19 Relief Fund by donating a portion of his merchandise sales.
• He also donated $150,000 to a fundraiser for the Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma to help feed people during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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)
• Fully Loaded: God's Country (2019)
• Body Language (2021)
• For Recreational Use Only (2025)

Tours

Headlining

• 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)

Supporting

• Shock'n Y'all Tour (2002, with Toby Keith)
• Here's to You Tour (2005, with Rascal Flatts)
• Me and My Gang Tour (2006, with Rascal Flatts)
• H2O II: Wetter and Wilder World Tour (2011, with Brad Paisley)

Filmography

Record as coach on The Voice

Blake Shelton was a coach on NBC's The Voice from its start in 2011 until the twenty-third season in 2023. He was the most successful coach, guiding nine artists from his team to win the show!

See also

In Spanish: Blake Shelton para niños