Blake Shelton: A look back at the country titan's rise to fame through the years
From humble beginnings to huge success
When thinking about country music, it's hard not to think of Blake Shelton. With over 10 million record sales worldwide, a successful TV career and countless awards under his belt, the country crooner has become a titan within the genre.
Responsible for mega-hits such as 'Honey Bee', 'God's Country' and 'God Gave Me You' to name but a few, Blake has shaped the genre over his two-decade-long career and been a major influence to many artists along the way. To celebrate Blake's incredible career, we've taken the opportunity to look back at his meteoric rise to fame over the years.
Blake Shelton's career: 18 photos that define his journey
Career beginnings
Blake Shelton moved to Nashville, Tennessee after graduating from high school to pursue a singing career. He was signed by Giant Records in 2001 and released his debut single 'Austin' that same year.
The single was a huge success, reaching Number 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart where it stayed for five weeks. Later that year, Blake released his self-titled debut album, which produced the Top 20 hits 'All Over Me' and 'Ole Red'. Blake now considers 'Ole Red' to be his signature song even though it didn't reach Number 1.
2003: 'Dreamer' is released
After Giant Records closed, Blake was transferred to the parent company, Warner Bros. Records. In 2003, he released his second studio album, 'Dreamer' along with three singles 'The Baby', 'Heavy Liftin' and 'Playboys of the Southwestern World'. Lead single 'The Baby' reached Number 1 on country charts and the album itself earned a Gold certification.
In late 2003, Blake married his longtime girlfriend, Kaynette Gern at a small ceremony in Gatlinburg, Tennessee.
2004-2005: 'Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill' is released
'Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill', his third studio album was released in 2004 and gave the country star his third chart-topper 'Some Beach'. The album reached Number 3 on the Top Country Albums chart, with singles 'Goodbye Time' and 'Nobody But Me' also reaching the Top 10.
In 2005, Blake made a cameo appearance in the movie 'The Christmas Blessing' starring Neil Patrick Harris and Rob Lowe, and some of his songs including 'Nobody but Me' were used on the soundtrack.
2007: 'Pure BS' is released
Blake released his fourth album 'Pure BS' in 2007, following his divorce from first wife Kaynette Gern. The album premiered at Number 2 on the country chart, with its first two singles, 'Don't Make Me' and 'The More I Drink', both also reaching the Top 20.
Blake made his debut at a TV talent judge in 2007 on popular shows Nashville Star and Clash of the Choirs. In his personal life, he began dating fellow country star, Miranda Lambert.
2008: Fifth studio album 'Startin' Fires'
'Pure BS' was re-released in 2008, along with three new tracks including a cover of Michael Bublé's smash hit 'Home'. The cover was a huge hit and topped the charts upon its release.
Blake also released 'Startin' Fires' in 2008, his fifth studio album. The album produced the single 'She Wouldn't Be Gone', which was Blake's 14th chart entry and his fifth Number 1 single. This was the first time in Blake's career that he had two consecutive Number 1 singles.
2009: Blake collaborates with Tracy Adkins
In 2009, Blake released a duet with country singer Trace Adkins entitled 'Hillbilly Bone' which was the lead single to his upcoming EP of the same name. Not only did the EP reach Number 1 on the Country Singles chart, but the single also won the 2010 Academy of Country Music award for Vocal Event of the Year, Blake's first Academy of Country Music award.
2010: The Grand Ole Opry
2010 was a huge year for Blake. He released his second EP, 'All About Tonight' which reached Number 1 on the Country Chart and Number 6 on the Billboard 200. Both singles from the EP, 'All About Tonight' and 'Who Are You When I'm Not Looking' also reached the Number 1 spot.
Blake was invited to become a member of the legendary country music institution, The Grand Ole Opry and was formally inducted by Tracy Adkins. He also got engaged to girlfriend Miranda Lambert after four years of dating.
Blake also went on to release his first greatest hits album, 'Loaded: The Best of Blake Shelton' in late 2010 , which is his fourth album to have achieve Platinum certification.
2011: Blake joins the Voice
After being engaged for a year, Blake and Miranda Lambert tied the knot in 2011 at the Don Strange Ranch in Texas. It was during this year that Blake also became a judge on the hit TV show The Voice USA alongside Christina Aguilera, CeeLo Green, and Adam Levine.
This same year, he released the album 'Red River Blue' which became his first Number 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart. The album produced four Number 1 singles including 'Honey Bee', 'Over', 'Drink On It' and 'God Gave Me You'.
2012: The Superbowl
2012 started out as a particularly difficult year for Blake after sadly losing his father, Richard Shelton, a military veteran. However, he threw himself into his work and in February 2012, he performed a duet of 'America The Beautiful' with Miranda at the Super Bowl XLVI. This was their first TV appearance as a married couple.
Blake made a guest appearance on the song 'Just A Fool' which featured on fellow Voice judge Christina Aguilera's 2012 album 'Lotus'. In October 2012, he also released his first Christmas album, 'Cheers, It's Christmas', which peaked at Number 1 and Number 2 respectively on the Top Holiday Albums and Top Country Albums charts.
2013: 'Based on a True Story...' was released
In 2013, Blake released his eighth studio album 'Based on a True Story...' which debuted at Number 1 on the Country Chart and Number 3 on the Billboard 200. The album's four singles, 'Sure Be Cool If You Did', 'Mine Would Be You', 'Boys 'Round Here' and 'My Eyes' all bagged the Number 1 spot on the Country Airplay chart. Blake now had 11 consecutive Number 1 hits to his name.
For his outstanding achievements as a judge on The Voice, Blake was awarded the Gene Weed Special Achievement Award during the 48th Academy of Country Music Awards in 2013.
2014: 'Bringing Back the Sunshine' is released
'Bringing Back the Sunshine', Blake's ninth studio album was released in 2014 and included the singles 'Neon Light', 'Sangria', 'Gonna' and 'Lonely Tonight'- a duet with country singer Ashley Monroe. Once again, all four singles reached Number 1 on the Country Airplay chart.
That same year, Blake was inducted into the Oklahoma Hall of Fame for both his musical achievements and for the generous work he has done for his home state. He also took home the Male Vocalist of the Year at the 2014 CMA Awards.
2015: Divorce and another greatest hits album
The country music world was shaken in 2015 when Blake and Miranda announced that they would be getting a divorce after four years of marriage. Later that year, Blake started dating pop star and fellow The Voice USA judge, Gwen Stefani.
During this year, Blake also released his second greatest hits album, 'Reloaded: 20 #1 Hits'. The album performed well upon release and reached Number 2 on the Country Chart.
2016: 'If I'm Honest' is released
'If I'm Honest', Blake's 10th studio album, was released in 2016 and debuted at Number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. The album included the chart-topping singles, 'Came Here to Forget' and 'A Guy with a Girl', which was Blake's 23rd Number 1 hit single.
The album also included a duet with girlfriend Gwen Stefani, titled 'Go Ahead And Break My Heart', which the couple later performed at the Billboard Music Awards 2016. Later that same year, Blake featured on the single 'Forever Country' along with 29 current and legendary superstars of country music to celebrate 50 years of the CMA Awards. The single debuted at Number 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs.
2017: 'Texoma Shore' is released
Following on from the success of 'If I'm Honest', Blake released his 11th album 'Texoma Shore' just a year later. The album is named after Lake Texoma which lies on the border of Texas and Oklahoma and debuted at Number 1 on the Top Country Album Chart upon its released. Lead single 'I'll Name the Dogs' also performed well, reaching Number 1 on the Country Airplay chart.
Blake made history at the People's Choice Awards in 2017 by becoming the first country artist to win the all-genre category of Favorite Album over competitors Beyoncé, Drake, Rihanna and Ariana Grande, while also winning the award for Favorite Male Country Artist.
2019: 'Fully Loaded: God's Country' is released
Blake released another compilation album titled 'Fully Loaded: God's Country' in 2019, which was preceded by the Number 1 single 'God's Country'. The album reached Number 1 on the Top Country Albums chart and also featured the singles 'Nobody But You', a duet with Gwen Stefani and 'Hell Right' featuring Tracy Adkins.
2020: Blake proposes to Gwen Stefani
Blake and Gwen both announced via social media on 27th October 2020 that they had become engaged, after five years of dating. They tied the knot in the chapel that Blake proposed in on 3rd July 2021, with Blake becoming step-father to Gwen's three son's Kingston, Zuma and Apollo from her previous marriage to Bush frontman Gavin Rossdale.
2021: 12th studio album
Blake released his 12th studio album, 'Body Language' in May 2021. This album was the first full-length studio album Blake has released in four years and featured singles 'Minimum Wage', his chart-topper with wife Gwen Stefani and 'Happy Anywhere'.
2023: 'Back To The Honky Tonk Tour'
Blake went on the 'Back To The Honky Tonk Tour' in 2023, which then returned in 2024 with 17 shows across the United States and Canada. Opening acts for the tour, which ended on 29th March, were Dustin Lynch and Emily Ann Roberts.
In addition, Blake left his role as a coach on The Voice after season 23, which aired in 2023. Blake was a coach on the show since the first season in 2011, with an artist from his team winning the show on nine occasions. His final win was with country singer Bryce Leatherwood.
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