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‘Honey Bee’ singer says he’ll see you at the fair Blake Shelton
By John Benson
What a year it’s been for Blake Shelton. Not only did he get married to fellow country music star Miranda Lambert but he also released hit album “Red River Blue.”
Now the award-winning Shelton is hitting the road with a Monday show at the Canfield Fair. Here are 10 things you probably didn’t know about Shelton.
While his first performance was at the age of 8 for a beauty pageant, Shelton didn’t start playing guitar until he was 14.
Born in Ada, Oklahoma, Shelton appeared to be on the fast track to success right out of high school when he won the Denbo Diamond Award as one of the state’s most-promising entertainers.
At age 17, Shelton moved to Nashville to pursue stardom. His first job in the Music City was as a house painter. It took him five years to sign his first record deal.
Shelton lists his musical influences as Hank Williams Jr., Earl Thomas Conley, Dan Seals and John Anderson.
Shelton met his now-wife Miranda Lambert at CMT’s Greatest Duets Concert in 2006. The pair was married this past spring in Texas with guests Reba McEntire, Martina McBride, Cee Lo Green, Kelly Clarkson and Dierks Bentley in attendance.
Over the past decade, Shelton has scored No. 1 hits with “Austin,” “The Baby,” “Some Beach,” “Home,” “She Wouldn’t Be Gone,” “Hillbilly Bone,” “All About Tonight,” “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking” and most recently, “Honey Bee.”
“Red River Blue” is his first studio effort to debut at No. 1 on the charts.
Returning to reality television, he appeared on “Nashville Star.” Shelton also was seen on “The Voice,” where he appeared as a judge and vocal coach.
In a previous interview, Shelton had this to say about playing local fairs: “I enjoy the fairs. A lot of people don’t like playing them, because it’s hot or you don’t know what to expect, but those are the things that make it fun for me.”
When asked why people should make an effort to attend fair shows, Shelton said, “Because if they don’t, they’ll be the only person in town that didn’t.”