Wyoming Tribune-Eagle (July 23rd 2008)

Blake Shelton takes crooner’s song, turns it into a country hit

Country singer Blake Shelton's version of jazz crooner Michael Buble's song "Home" is No. 1 on the charts.

Tonight at 8 p.m., Shelton will perform with Kellie Pickler at the Cheyenne Frontier Days Night Show.

Asked if "Home" was his first exposure to jazz music, Shelton responded, "Pretty much - it's funny 'cause since this has happened, I've gone back to listen to more of Michael's music to figure out where he's coming from.

"'Home' to me isn't like his rest of his music," Shelton said. "He's more of a Big Band Sinatra sound, 'Home' is almost a broken-down acoustic guitar song."

Shelton's version of the song appears on his "Pure BS: Deluxe Edition" album.

The album features more dynamic singing from Shelton.

'I did that to myself, from the Barn and Grill' album, I recorded the song Goodbye Time' in 2005, and for the first time, I had people approaching me saying, I didn't know you could sing like that.'

'My answer always was - Hell, I didn't either.'

'I hadn't pushed my self as a vocalist that much for whatever reason."

He wanted to push his boundaries when he made 'Pure BS."

'Every night when I get on stage to perform songs on the Pure BS,' album it's a challenge to step up and hit those notes.

'I love it, and it's why I'm up there to do what I do and give it everything I've got, and make sure my fans think they saw something that night."

Shelton is already working on a new record.

'I'm pushing myself to sing better and record and write better songs," Shelton said. 'Then it gets harder and harder, each time I make a record. I have to outdo myself from the time before.

'I love what I do and I will always be excited to step up to those challenges."

Shelton is playing on an evening that country legend Chris LeDoux used to regularly perform on during CFD.

'Chris LeDoux was the first thing I thought of and I turned to a couple of guys in my band when I saw that date on the calendar," Shelton said. 'I told them that was LeDoux's show every year."

Shelton opened for the late singer at the Greeley Stampede several years ago.

'I opened for him there and about five times along the way," Shelton said. 'I wouldn't trade that experience for anything to be around him and watch his show.

'I watched the people as they watched him."

Shelton recounted a particular show the two did in Nebraska.

'I watched the burley-looking cowboys," Shelton said. 'You could tell they were the real deal. He came out on stage and they were crying at one of his songs.

'That's the impact he had on his audience, and he knew who his fans were."

It was an experience that Shelton carries with him to this day.

'It's an honor," Shelton said. 'He's the reason that it's an honor for me to step on that stage."