The Boot (Nov. 16th 2010)
Blake Shelton leaks humorous details of his family ties to Reba
After his name was announced as the winner of the CMA Award for Male Vocalist of the Year, Blake Shelton first hugged and kissed his fiancé Miranda Lambert, then he headed over to country queen Reba McEntire, who was moved to tears when he grabbed her for a big bear hug.
Blake and Reba have developed a close friendship over the past several years, and the two Okies have more in common than the state they're from and their love for country music. They also share the same management company -- Reba is managed by her husband, Narvel Blackstock, while Blake is managed by Narvel's son, Brandon. Backstage at last week's CMA Awards following his wins, Blake explained the hilarious background story of how he came to be part of the Blackstock-McEntire family.
"[In 2005], I was on tour with Rascal Flatts, and I was going through a lot of changes in my life," explains Blake. "One of which was a divorce, [and one] that a lot of people didn't know about ... record company troubles and trying to make some changes there. Another was a management change. Word got out, I was a young kid and had some songs on the radio, that I was looking for management. I will never in my life forget this, because Brandon Blackstock -- Narvel's son and Reba's stepson -- he was the tour manager for Rascal Flatts at the time. The way it works on the Rascal Flatts tour that I found out is, they get out there and they're running around crazy and they do their show and 'good night.' They go back behind the [stage], and they have to pee by then. Well, there's no time to go all the way to the bathroom because they have an encore to do. So, there's milk jugs back there with holes cut out of the top -- and I don't care if they get mad at me for this -- but they have to go. So, they pee in these milk jugs, right?"
"Part of that tour was that I came out during the encore and sang the last song with them," Blake continues. "So, they had already come out, did their show, came back, peed in the jugs and went back out and started the encore, and I'm just standing back there and Brandon Blackstock's standing right there and walks up to me and he says -- and it's real loud -- he says, 'Hey! I heard you're looking for a new manager, and I want you to think about me,' as he was holding two milk jugs full of urine in both of his hands. I remember going, 'What an idiot! What are you talking about?' But the guy was very persistent ... I finally just decided that kind of passion is what I need in my career is a guy like that, and a guy with the power of a Narvel Blackstock and the power of a Reba McEntire."
"When I made the decision to do it, I found out yes, they are a company, but they're a family. When you're brought into that, they treat you like family," adds Blake. "When Reba was standing there emotional and was crying, and Narvel was crying ... I've been with them for five years now, and it's been a battle. I mean, every day has been a grind and it's just not been easy. [It's] like when you've been pushing on a wall and pushing, and that moment when it finally hits the ground, that's kind of what it felt like [to win the CMA award]. It's awesome!”