The Oklahoman (Dec. 26th 2008)

Lambert and Shelton collaborate on tour

[edited version]

Johnny and June.

George and Tammy.

Tim and Faith.

Garth and Trisha.

Blake and Miranda?

Taking a page from the country music power-couple playbook, Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton embarked this fall on a joint tour billed as a "seamless” experience. They will finish the short co-headlining tour with a New Year’s Eve show titled "Bootin’ Out 08 & Kickin In 09” in Green Bay, Wis., but being on the road is a way of life for both performers.

Both artists are in slightly different stages of their careers: Lambert, who a year ago moved to a Tishomingo farm near Shelton’s spread, is still touring in support of 2007’s critically adored "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” which landed the 25-year-old Texas native Album of the Year honors at the 2008 Academy of Country Music Awards. Ada native Shelton released last month "Startin’ Fires,” his fifth studio album and the follow-up to 2007’s "Pure BS.” The 32-year-old singer-songwriter’s career got quite the boost last year from an unlikely artistic choice, a cover of Michael Buble’s "Home,” which, coincidentally, features backing vocals from Lambert.

We snagged both stars (separately, alas) while they were on the road for a little she said/he said about each other.

Shelton

On "Bare Skin Rug,” his collaboration with Lambert: "What’s funny about it, man, you’ll never believe — I had to kick and fight and cuss and was pretty much told by the record companies that the stupidest thing I could do was put that on an album. You can’t believe what I went through to get it on ("Startin’ Fires”). (Album producer) Scott Hendricks put a couple microphones in front of us at the farm … lit a campfire, and there were crickets…. We just played it one time and recorded it.”

On his relationship with Lambert: "It’s never been strange to me. Neither one of us was dating…. We met in the public eye, so I don’t know Miranda Lambert that’s not famous (laughs). So it’s always been that way with she and I. It’s always been, when we go out to eat or something, we have to think, ‘OK, is this going to be a problem tonight?’”