USA Today (Nov. 9th 2010)

Miranda, Blake are a two-fer

Lambert, Shelton lift each other's careers

On the night Blake Shelton got invited to join the Grand Ole Opry in September, he told the audience: "I don't know what I've done in the past year and a half to get Nashville's attention." From the back of the hall, a woman piped up: "Miranda Lambert!"

Country music's "it" couple, up for a combined 13 nominations at the Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday, have been together about five years. The relationship hasn't hurt either's career.

"We're both in the public eye, so it's kind of a two-for-one deal," Lambert says. "Usually, when somebody talks about one, they talk about the other."

Lambert has nine nominations, the most of any nominee this year. Shelton has four. They compete in three categories: single, video and musical event.

Both singers have had career years. Nominees White Liar and The House That Built Me gave Lambert No. 1 singles on USA TODAY's country radio chart. Shelton topped the chart with Hillbilly Bone and All About Tonight. He also released two six-song albums and a greatest-hits set, out today.

The two, who plan to be married in the spring, have made key contributions to each other's careers.

Lambert suggested Shelton go on Twitter, a place where he found his (often contentious) voice, along with more than 140,000 followers.

"It's my fault," she says. "I said, 'You're funny; you should tweet.' Now I completely regret it."

Shelton gave Lambert a song that could bring her a trophy.

Shelton was considering recording The House That Built Me when he played it one night for Lambert as they drove from Dallas to their home in Oklahoma.

"It was dark, and she wasn't saying anything," he says. "I looked over, and I could see from the dash lights that she was seriously bawling. I said, 'If that song means that much to you, you should record it.' The crying tripled after that."

Neither has won a CMA award. Lambert figures Shelton has the edge for musical event, where he and Trace Adkins are nominated for Hillbilly Bone. "I think they've got that one in the bag," she says, "and I'm in the category."

For Shelton, The House That Built Me is an easy call: "If that song doesn't win, that's ridiculous."