Before becoming a celebrated country superstar and a beloved television personality, Blake Shelton first stepped onto a very unusual stage as a child—at beauty pageants. Growing up in Ada, Oklahoma, Blake’s initial experiences performing occurred at events typically reserved for his older sister, Endy. Their mother, already familiar with local pageants, decided to include her young son in these competitions, primarily so he could showcase his singing talent during the performance segments.
Reflecting back in a 2020 interview on The Kelly Clarkson Show, Blake humorously recounted that his mother actually entered him into pageants specifically so he could participate in the talent portion. However, this also meant Blake had to compete in categories like evening wear, an experience he found both uncomfortable and embarrassing at the time.
Shelton’s song choices weren’t always crowd-pleasers. He recalled performing Ted Nugent’s provocative rock hit, “Cat Scratch Fever,” which didn’t sit well with the families in attendance. Despite these awkward early experiences, Shelton eventually won audiences over and went on to achieve tremendous success. Today, at 48, he’s amassed an impressive 29 chart-topping singles, sold millions of albums, and garnered multiple awards—including ACMs, AMAs, CMAs, and People’s Choice Awards. Additionally, his popularity soared through his remarkable 23-season tenure on The Voice.
Yet, those first pageant performances were challenging. In a 2001 Access Hollywood interview, Blake admitted feeling embarrassed about participating in pageants as a young boy surrounded by dozens of girls. Despite his decent performances in the talent segments, the overall experience caused him to question whether singing was worth enduring the discomfort of the competitions. Ultimately, his stint in beauty pageants was brief, as he soon opted out of them altogether.
After concluding his lengthy run on The Voice in May 2023, Shelton decided to focus more closely on family life, spending time at his Oklahoma ranch with his wife Gwen Stefani and her three sons from her previous marriage. Shelton and Stefani met during their time as coaches on The Voice, marrying in 2021 in a ceremony officiated by Carson Daly, the show’s longtime host.
Still, Shelton maintains close ties to The Voice family. When his friend and occasional rival Adam Levine returned to the show after a lengthy absence, Shelton humorously provided Coach Kelsea Ballerini with a special button featuring pre-recorded playful jabs directed at Levine. Levine responded with his own humorous retaliation, flooding Shelton’s phone with joking text messages.
Shelton also recently appeared again on NBC, hosting a special event titled “Opry 100: A Live Celebration,” marking the centennial anniversary of Nashville’s iconic Grand Ole Opry. As a proud Opry member, Blake described joining this revered country music institution as one of the highlights of his life and career. Even after 15 years, Shelton admitted feeling a profound sense of respect and excitement each time he steps onto the Opry stage. Fans can now stream this commemorative special on the Peacock platform.