The Tennessean (Jan. 26th 2014)

Shelton sings with heroes

For Blake Shelton, Christmas morning came on a mild January afternoon, on a big stage at a bigger arena, in downtown LA.

Shelton strode onto that stage with three of his musical heroes, Country Music Hall of Famers Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Merle Haggard. And anyone who doubts the contemporary star's admiration for his country predecessors would do well to see his wide-eyed appreciation of them.

Asked if it made him feel like one of the team to be onstage with three all-time greats, Shelton said, "It doesn't make me feel like one of them as I can't imagine how I could be, but what I do know is it does give me bragging rights to my generation.

The quartet's segment for tonight's Grammy Awards opens with Nelson and Kristofferson singing "The Highwayman," a Jimmy Webb-penned song that gave name to the long-ago supergroup of Nelson, Kristofferson, Johnny Cash and Waylon Jennings. Then it shifts to an all-sing version of the Nelson hit "Mammas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys" and ends with a rousing take on Haggard's smash "Okie from Muskogee."

"We enjoy each other's company, so it's something special to be able to work together," Haggard said. "I think it's great for us to be part of anything at our age."

Kristofferson, who on Saturday collected a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, said he felt like anything but a wise and accomplished elder when singing with Haggard and Nelson.

"I feel like I've got to pinch myself up there," he said. "I'm with two of the biggest heroes of my life. It's like I'm standing with the Beatles, and I'm treated with respect, like I belong up there."