The Tennessean (Nov. 3rd 2014)

Shelton says CMAs feel like 'family'

Blake Shelton jokes that wife Miranda Lambert's nine CMA Award nominations make his three "sound (cruddy)."

Not that he's upset. Shelton is thrilled to be nominated for entertainer of the year, male vocalist of the year and single of the year for his hit "Mine Would Be You."

"I'm surprised, honestly, every time I get nominations," said Shelton, also a coach on NBC's "The Voice." "You've got to remember, man, I guess the first seven or eight or nine years I never had any kind of a nominations. There might have been a new guy nomination in there early on, but I had decided, years ago, that I just wasn't going to be one of those artists that wins awards." 

Back then, Shelton said he didn't understand how voting at awards shows worked. He remembers sitting on the edge of his couch in anticipation, then never hearing his name called.

"Looking back, it's like, 'Hell no, my name wasn't called. No wonder. Who the hell would have voted for me?' " he said. "But now, getting those nominations, I think I had written it off for so long it's like, 'Oh my God, that was today and I'm finding out because I got a nomination. I can't believe it.' "

Shelton -- who has won trophies for entertainer of the year, album of the year and male vocalist of the year -- said every time he hears his name called as a winner these days, he understands it may never happen again. And that's OK, too, because just sitting in Bridgestone Arena with the other nominees makes him feel like "part of the family."

"It's indescribable," he said. "It's the coolest feeling ever because I remember watching it on TV and wishing I could be one of those people one day, and now here I am doing it. It's unbelievable."

See how many trophies Shelton wins this year when the 48th annual CMA Awards air at 7 p.m. Wednesday on ABC live from Bridgestone Arena.