Blake Shelton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blake Shelton
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Shelton in 2017
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| Born |
Blake Tollison Shelton
June 18, 1976 Ada, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Occupation |
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| Years active | 2001–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Kaynette Gern
(m. 2003; div. 2006) |
| Musical career | |
| Origin | Nashville, Tennessee, U.S. |
| Genres | Country |
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Blake Tollison Shelton (born June 18, 1976) is an American country singer, songwriter, and television star. He is one of the biggest names in country music today. He is also famous for being a coach on the TV show The Voice.
In 2001, he released his first single, "Austin". The song was a huge success. It stayed at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for five weeks. His first album, also called Blake Shelton, sold over a million copies.
Over his career, Shelton has had 41 singles on the music charts, with 30 of them reaching number one. He has been nominated for nine Grammy Awards. Besides music, he is known for his fun personality on TV shows like The Voice, where he was a coach from 2011 to 2023.
Contents
Early Life and Beginnings
Blake Tollison Shelton was born in Ada, Oklahoma. His mother, Dorothy, owned a beauty salon, and his father, Richard, was a car salesman. Shelton started singing when he was very young. His uncle taught him to play the guitar at age 12. By the time he was 15, he had already written his first song.
When Shelton was 14, his older brother Richie died in a car accident. This was a very sad time for him and his family. Later, Shelton would write a song about his brother.
After finishing high school at 17, Shelton moved to Nashville, Tennessee, to become a country singer. He worked for a music publishing company. In 1997, he got a contract with Sony Music.
Music Career
2001–2006: A Strong Start
In 2001, Shelton signed with Giant Records. His first single was supposed to be a song called "I Wanna Talk About Me." But the record label decided it wasn't the right song for him. Instead, Toby Keith recorded it, and it became a number-one hit for Keith.
Shelton's first single became "Austin". Soon after its release, Giant Records closed. Shelton then moved to Warner Bros. Records. "Austin" became his first number-one hit. His first album, Blake Shelton, also had two other popular songs, "All Over Me" and "Ol' Red." Shelton says "Ol' Red" is his favorite song to perform in concerts.
His next albums, The Dreamer (2003) and Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill (2004), were also very successful. The Dreamer had a number-one hit called "The Baby." Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill included the hit song "Some Beach."
2006–2011: More Hits and The Voice
Shelton's fourth album, Pure BS, came out in 2007. He later re-released it with a bonus track: a cover of Michael Bublé's song "Home". Shelton's version of "Home" became a number-one country hit. This was followed by another number-one song, "She Wouldn't Be Gone."
During this time, Shelton also started appearing on TV. He was a judge on the shows Nashville Star and Clash of the Choirs. In 2010, he was invited to become a member of the famous Grand Ole Opry, a great honor for any country musician.
In 2011, Shelton's career reached a new level when he became a coach on the NBC singing competition The Voice. This show made him a household name across America.
2011–2016: Superstardom
Shelton's album Red River Blue (2011) was a huge success. It included the hit singles "Honey Bee" and "God Gave Me You." Both songs went to number one. He continued to release hit albums like Based on a True Story... (2013) and Bringing Back the Sunshine (2014).
During this period, Shelton set a record for the most consecutive number-one singles on the country music charts. His song "Doin' What She Likes" was his 11th number-one hit in a row.
As a coach on The Voice, Shelton was very successful. Contestants from his team won the show many times. He became known for his friendly rivalry with fellow coach Adam Levine. In 2014, Shelton was added to the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for his achievements.
2016–Present: Continued Success
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Shelton continued to release popular music with albums like If I'm Honest (2016) and Texoma Shore (2017). He also voiced a character, a pig named Earl, in The Angry Birds Movie.
In 2019, he released a collection of songs called Fully Loaded: God's Country. The title track, "God's Country", was a massive hit. He also recorded duets with his now-wife, Gwen Stefani, including "Nobody but You" and "Happy Anywhere."
Shelton released his album Body Language in 2021. He left The Voice in 2023 after 23 seasons, having won the show nine times with his team members. In 2024, he signed with a new record label, BBR Music Group. His latest album, For Recreational Use Only, was released in May 2025.
Other Projects
Besides music, Shelton is also a businessman. He is a partner in a chain of restaurants and music venues called Ole Red. The first one opened in his hometown of Tishomingo, Oklahoma, in 2017. There are now locations in Nashville, Gatlinburg, Orlando, and Las Vegas.
Shelton is also known for his charity work. He has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to causes in his home state of Oklahoma. He has supported children's hospitals and music programs in schools.
Personal Life
Shelton married his longtime girlfriend Kaynette Gern in 2003. They divorced in 2006.
In 2005, he met fellow country singer Miranda Lambert. They got married in 2011. Shelton and Lambert wrote the award-winning song "Over You" about his late brother, Richie. They announced their divorce in July 2015.
In late 2015, Shelton began dating singer Gwen Stefani, who was also a coach on The Voice. They bonded over their similar experiences and began writing music together. They announced their engagement in October 2020 and were married on July 3, 2021, at a chapel on Shelton's property in Oklahoma. Through his marriage to Stefani, Shelton is a stepfather to her three sons.
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)
- For Recreational Use Only (2025)
See also
In Spanish: Blake Shelton para niños
