Associated Press (April 8th 2006)

Country artist Shelton plans fundraiser for wildfire victims

Country music singer Blake Shelton will host a fundraiser that will include a concert to help raise funds for victims of drought and a string of wildfires that have plagued Oklahoma since November.

Shelton said he will host a three-day event called "Raindance" in his hometown of Ada starting May 14. The event will include an archery tournament, team roping, a silent auction and a concert featuring Shelton and at least four other country artists.

Shelton said the first artist to commit to perform at the concert is Andy Griggs.

Shelton is known for hits such as "Austin," "Ol' Red" and "Some Beach" and just finished a 16-month tour with Rascal Flatts, a group that includes another Oklahoman, Joe Don Rooney of Picher.

"It was almost like your last day of high school," Shelton said of the end of the tour. "You get to be so close to people and work with them, you eat breakfast, lunch and dinner with them all, and when it's the last day, you don't see them much any more. Now I'm going out and doing my own headlining and they'll go on and do their own thing."

Shelton said he wanted to do the benefit because he's fond of people in his home state.

"That's the reason why I wanted to get involved in this and make this into something we can hopefully do every year," Shelton said. "It's easy to get caught up in all of this all the time. I live in Tennessee and it's good to keep a strong bond with my hometown.

"It's the perfect thing for me to connect myself with back home, because it's a great cause. It's something cool we can do for the Ada area."

Since Nov. 1, grass fires in Oklahoma have scorched an estimated 560,000 acres, damaged or destroyed more than 1,000 homes and businesses and killed at least three people, including a volunteer firefighter.

Shelton said he plans to release a new album this fall.