It’s Good to Be Blake Shelton These Days

Between Blake Shelton’s upcoming nuptials with country music’s critical darling, Miranda Lambert, and his recent number one title-track single, “All About Tonight,” off of his number one album, all things are pointing up.

For Shelton, the climb to stardom has been a slow journey. He spent several years cutting his teeth in Nashville, went through a label change right after his first single was released to radio and has seemingly gained popularity with every album release. It’s no coincidence that this popularity has also been linked to a greater presence in traditional and social media realms where country music fans have been able to get a greater glimpse into the wit and good-ole-boy humor that has become Shelton’s trademark stamp on country music. Funny YouTube videos, subtle and not-so-subtle Twitter posts and humorous interviews on shows like Chelsea Handler draw on historic comparisons to such industry legends as Minnie Pearl and Ray Stevens. And while there is a seriousness to Shelton when it comes to his music and career, it’s the stuff that’s outside the recording studio that has endeared him to his fans even more.

Shelton was kind enough to carve out some time for The 9513 to talk about the new album and the role of humor in his career.

Where in the U.S. are we catching you in your travels right now?

I’m playing in an event called WE Fest in Minnesota. And tonight, interestingly enough, is me, Jason Aldean, Eric Church and Kid Rock.

That’s quite the eclectic foursome right there.

I don’t know why they won’t put me on the shows I want to be on which would be me, Shania Twain, Faith Hill, Kellie Pickler and Katie Perry. To me, that’s a good show for me to be on.

I’d imagine Miranda keeps putting the kibosh on that gig.

I know it. Every single time we get that offer, Miranda keeps saying, “No.”

Speaking of Miranda, has she come to her senses and allowed you to take over all the wedding plans yet?

I don’t know why because if she would, we would already be married by now. It would be a quick Elvis rock and roll ceremony in Las Vegas with tattooed wedding rings.

With catfish and venison as the “traditional” wedding meal?

She’d actually be on board for that! I’m lucky to have a girlfriend that has good taste and she loves chicken fried deer steak and catfish.

You’d think that after loaning her “The House That Built Me,” she’d owe you big time and would cave in to every whim you have.

I don’t look at that way. I look at it that Miranda is my retirement. (Laughter) And “The House That Built Me” is me investing into my retirement. She’s like the world’s best 401k.

Very funny. You have a brand new album that just hit shelves. From the artist’s perspective, what should fans expect to hear?

I tell you what. When fans get this one, I think they can take the Hillbilly Bone six-pack and this one and put them together and they really do fit together. I don’t really know how that happened, maybe I’m just in the same state of mind I was when we made that last one. It wasn’t that long ago. I think I’m just in a good place mentally. At least good as I can be. (Laughter) I’m making good music that isn’t depressing or that you have to think too hard about. It’s just a country record, man. Sometimes that’s the hardest one to make when you’re not getting too far out there. You don’t want to sing all drinking songs. I think it’s the best I can do. It’s hard to say that because you don’t want to just lay it out there like that. But I really do think this is the best I can do. I think I’m singing the best I can. We have some great writers who have contributed to it. It’s their best work, I think. And I think people will catch onto that with “All About Tonight” or another song that moves them to get the record. I’m going to look out tonight on 40,000 people and each and every one of them will be living out the lyrics of that song. Every single one of them. That’s a strong connection to have with an audience. And if it’s not that single that moves them, hopefully it will be our next one which is “Who Are You When I’m Not Looking.” I really think that’s one of the greatest songs I’ve ever cut.

Hillbilly Bone was decidedly more upbeat with fewer ballads as perhaps some of your earlier albums were. How would you compare All About Tonight?

It definitely has some tempo to it although it has more ballads to it. Since there’s only six songs, two ballads doubles the amount of ballads that were on the first one. It’s still more up-tempo than the records that I’ve done before. This is my seventh album. As people learn about me and my personality–especially lately through Twitter and more television–I think it’s the type of music that they’d expect to hear from a guy with a personality like mine. That comes from me becoming more confident in who I am and that I’m an absolute dipshit half the time. (Laughter) And I’m okay with that. Once you learn those things and embrace them about yourself, you become that guy when you record. I think that’s why 11 years into this thing, I’m finally connecting with my audience more than ever.

Do you think the role of humor and allowing that side of you to be more visible has made that deeper connection?

I do. I think it’s refreshing to country audiences. They’ve been so trained all these years that the country music acts they’re listening to are going to go on about how life is so great–that they live this role model lifestyle. I don’t know how that happened over the years. Man, I’m not that guy. I’m not going to suggest that anybody look up to me as their hero and inspiration. (Laughter) I’ve made some bad mistakes along the way. I’m not trying to be a politician and preach to people. I’m not that guy. I’m a guy that loves listening to Hank Williams, Jr. albums and get drunk out by the campfire and feel like crap the next day. I’m one of those guys–probably like the guys that are buying my records. I’m just like them. I think me being open about that is probably why there’s a deeper connection with my audience. And hopefully I’m getting a deeper connection with those that weren’t or aren’t my fans because the respect that I’m not full of bullshit. I’m not being political or winning awards. I’m just having a ball doing what I do. I’m not going to lie to you. I get to be a country singer. How many people get to do that? Almost none.

Your career has hit a new plateau as of late and there is no doubt that there’s a large segment of country music fans out there that have a much deeper connection to you as an artist through the use of humor and social media marketing.

I believe that too. It doesn’t hurt to have music that also fits in with that too. Songs like “Hillbilly Bone” and “All About Tonight” speak to that. It doesn’t mean I have to do partying songs all the time, but it makes that wheel turn–the one that’s almost impossible to turn–which helps you get to that next level. You put all of that together; it moves the dial a bit. And that’s really hard to do in our industry.

Speaking of letting your personal life into your career, I know there’s a new duet with Miranda on the new album. Was that a conscious decision to find a duet that you could sing with her or is it just something that landed in your lap?

We found it by accident. Neither Miranda nor I have ever said, “Man, we need to find a duet to sing.” It was initially a Chris Stapleton song and she happened to hear it when I was listening to it one day and said, “Man, I really like that song. I want to cut that song.” And I said, “Well, you can shit in one hand and wish in the other because I’m cutting it.” (Laughter) She said that it would work as a duet and she pointed out the lines and sang it to me. She was right; it actually worked a little better as a duet. Once we did it that way, I couldn’t think of it any other way than that. The song really found us. It wasn’t really even written as a duet. It was just one of Miranda’s great ideas that make you go, “Duh, why didn’t I think of that?”

What other music goals do you have out there? Are there any special projects or collaborations out there that you’d like to do in your future?

The next step for me is a greatest hits album in November. I know that’s not a new project, but it is a big deal to me because I always thought that I would have made it if I had a greatest hits album; I would have had some impact if that ever came out. So that’s going to be something that’s a big deal to me. We have accomplished something that the company wants to put out an album with 15 songs on it. I can’t believe that 11 years have gone by since I’ve been doing this.

Blake, thanks for your time. I’ve got one last question for you. You’ve got a table for four at Nashville’s swankiest restaurant and you’ve got choice of three other table guests. They can be past or present. Who are they and why?

One of them is Neal McCoy. Neal is one of those people that makes you happy just being around him. The other would be Conway Twitty. I never got a chance to meet Conway and he’s one of my heroes. I’d like to have Dolly Parton there too. Honest to God, Dolly says things sometimes that are just so smart that it absolutely blows me away the way her mind works. She’s just a brilliant lady.