South Bend Tribune (June 27th 2004)

Rising star Blake Shelton copes with demands of busy career

Blake Shelton can't wait to sit down.

Lately, life for the Ada, Okla., native has been much more hectic than the easygoing country singer is accustomed to. After all, growing up in small-town America is a far cry from the bright lights of Nashville, Tenn.

"I had one of those happy childhoods full of good friends and fishing," he said. "We did all the things you expect kids growing up in the country to do and had a blast doing them. It was a great way to grow up."

He loved it so much, he bought his own 400-plus acre ranch west of Nashville, where he wed his longtime girlfriend, Kaynette "Katt" Williams, and hopes to start a family of his own someday.

In the meantime, music fills his every waking hour in one way or another. When he isn't recording, he's performing. Between festivals, fairs, rodeos and special appearances, Shelton has a full schedule that just keeps getting fuller thanks to hits such as "Ol' Red," "Austin," "All Over Me," "The Dreamer" and "When Somebody Knows You That Well."

But in typical country music fashion, he spent years paying his dues before his music sparked the interest of industry executives.

Obsessed with music at an early age, he frequently entered talent shows as a child. He became fascinated not just by what he saw onstage and heard on the radio, but what went on behind the scenes in country music. He memorized which songwriters were behind some of his favorite singers.

"I've always been interested in how a song came about, not just the end result, which is why it's so important to me to make songs that really stand the test of time," Shelton said. "I want the words to mean something, the music to meld into the song like it was born that way. That's what makes a song sound as good today as it did 50 years ago."

By his teens, Shelton had spent years listening to the likes of Travis Tritt, Mark Collie and Earl Thomas Conley and was convinced his future lie in the their footsteps. His experience at the McSwain Theater, "an Opry-like show," two weekends every month and at fairs in Oklahoma City had already helped him hone his performing skills and cemented his resolve.

His days of countless hours fishing are far behind him, but he doesn't mind. After all, gold records (for his self-titled debut) and kudos from the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame, which named him the Rising Star for 2004, are as important to his way of life now as down time on the farm with his wife.

He's also keenly aware of the effect that his music might have on the youth of America. He might shy away from the term "role model," but he admits to trying to keep away from the negative influences that could wreck him and his career.

"There are so many things out there to get into, but I'm lucky to have a wonderful family to support me and the ability to keep my head on straight -- at least most of the time," he said. "I still have my idols, and I certainly had them growing up, so I know how important a positive influence is in a kid's life."

He does have one wish: to spend more time with his family. The grueling hours of touring are nothing new to him, but he does try to sneak in some quality time with friends and family whenever possible.

"I do feel like I'm on the road all the time," Shelton said, laughing. "But that's a good thing -- that's what you want, that demand of your time. When they stop wanting to see you live, that's when you have to worry."