The Blade (Jan. 8th 2012)
Q&A with singer Blake Shelton
Sometimes when you get Blake Shelton talking, you never know what he's going to say, and sometimes he talks so much you can't fit it all in a story. Here is additional material from my conversation with Shelton:
Q: You've accomplished so much over the past couple of years, what is your proudest accomplishment?
A: I'm pretty proud of the Grand Ole Opry induction. That's a big one for me. There are always brighter spots when you're in the moment -- like the Grammy nominations -- but when all is said and done, that Grand Ole Opry induction is a big deal to me. When your career comes and goes, that's the thing I'll probably be most proud of. To be a member of a country music family at that level -- from your heroes to your peers -- that's pretty cool.
Q: What do you still want to accomplish?
A: I still want a platinum album. For whatever reason, we've been close and had singles sell over a million copies, but I still haven't had a platinum record yet. [Editor's note: Shelton's debut "Blake Shelton" is his top-selling album with 813,000 copies. A platinum needs sales of 1 million copies.] My goal used to be to have a greatest hits record out there. I said everyone would then know I made a mark. My greatest hits and new album are both gold, and that's a bigger deal than having a No. 1 record on the radio.
Q: Why do you think people are connecting so well with you right now.
A: The Voice -- most recently -- has had the biggest impact on my career, but I like to think I got that opportunity to do The Voice because people figured out my sense of humor and all these things came together at once. I like to think it's the right music at the right time -- whether it's 'Who Are You When I'm Not Looking' or 'Hillbilly Bone.' There have been a lot of hits mixed in with good record sales, The Voice, hosting the ACMs -- all the media coverage around Miranda and I's wedding. Believe it or not, that was just a simple wedding that got turned into a bigger deal than either of us thought it would. All of that stuff, there are so many reasons for people to hear my name or see my photo. All of a sudden, it all clicks at once. It just seems like next year, shoot, maybe we can figure out a way to have an anniversary party and get some more media coverage.
Q: You wrote "Over You" with Miranda, and it's about your brother. Why did you give it to Miranda to record and not keep it for yourself?
A: Writing of the song was closure for me. Finally, I had the perfect closure for the memory of my brother and what happened. Honestly, I wouldn't want to relive that every night. I'm proud that she's the one who cut it because I love her and she's my wife.
Q: How do you guys deal with your celebrity?
A: We live in Tishomingo, Okla. We don't experience it that much. There is no movie theater to go to, so we'll go fishing or hunting or go to the grocery store. People are used to us. It's always kind of shocking when people stop us on the street in L.A.
Q: So do you ever have to go back and delete any of your tweets?
A: I can get away with so much more now. If Carrie Underwood says, 'I just [wet] my pants,' it becomes a national headline. Carson Daly was complaining the other day that 'Blake can get on Twitter and say anything. He can say he gropes old men and get away with it. If I say that, my show is canceled.'
Q: It looks like you'll have a sellout, about 8,000 people.
A: That's going to be 8,000 drunk tweeting fans. But it will be a kid-friendly show. I save the dirty stuff for social media.