The Tennessean (March 27th 2004)

Blake Shelton helps beat the blues at annual benefit

Country music star Blake Shelton (The Baby, Ol' Red, All Over Me) headlines the sixth annual Jammin' To Beat the Blues concert 7-10 p.m. tomorrow at Ryman Auditorium.

Shelton, a native of Ada, Okla., where his dad sells tractors and cars and where his mama used to have a beauty shop, says his manager, John Doris, turned him on to the benefit concert for the Mental Health Association of Middle Tennessee.

"Normally, my manager stays out of this, but for the first time he really lobbied for me to do this one. I could tell it meant something to him, and the more I listened to him, the more I decided this is something I wanted to do," said Shelton, who has been touring and working on his third album.

"I'm looking forward to this. It will be my first real concert in Nashville," Shelton said.

The singer cut his teeth singing at McSwain Theater, an Opry-type show that played in downtown Ada. "I listened to all kinds of music growing up. It was just natural to sing and perform country because of my lifestyle. . . . Anything that is country is pretty much me."

Shelton and his new wife, Kaynette, live on a big farm west of Nashville, where he planned on raising chickens and turkeys. He says that idea didn't exactly work out, thanks to his dogs, Austin and Ol' Red.

Joining Shelton on tomorrow's bill are Dusty Drake, Jeff Bates, Rachel Proctor, hit songwriter Dean Dillon and The Parks. Local media personality Sharon Puckett will be host of the event.