TODAY (Aug. 1st 2008)

Blake Shelton discusses his album "Pure BS"

(Clip from Blake Shelton music video)

HODA KOTB, co-host: Oh, can we just keep playing the song?

KATHIE LEE GIFFORD, co-host: Yeah, let's just watch the whole video.

KOTB: Oh, can I tell you, the lyrics are fantastic.

GIFFORD: And they're familiar, because Michael Buble wrote and recorded that song first. But now Blake Shelton's taken his version of "Home" to the top of the country music charts, and it's on its recently re-released album--so good it had to come out twice--called pure what?

KOTB: BS.

GIFFORD: "Pure BS."

Mr. BLAKE SHELTON ("Home"): "Pure BS."

KOTB: We like it.

GIFFORD: You know, my children's album is titled that.

Mr. SHELTON: Obviously, that's my initials.

KOTB: That's...

Mr. SHELTON: I don't know what you may have been thinking, but...

GIFFORD: Pure BS.

KOTB: Can I tell you--can I tell you something? I was trying to download the song "Home" a couple of days ago, and I clicked on it thinking it was Buble's version. I played it in my iPod and I go, `This version is so good. It's so much better.'

GIFFORD: What are you saying, you like it better?

KOTB: I have to say it, I like it.

GIFFORD: There goes Michael Buble coming on the show.

Mr. SHELTON: Yes. Gosh. He'll never be here now.

KOTB: Blake, loved your version of it. What was your connection with that song? Tell us.

Mr. SHELTON: You know, it's all--anybody in this business...

KOTB: Hm.

Mr. SHELTON: ...or anybody that travels for a living, you know, can relate to that song.

KOTB: Mm-hmm.

Mr. SHELTON: And, you know, Buble just sat down, I guess, and wrote down a song...

KOTB: Mm-hmm.

Mr. SHELTON: ...about his life.

GIFFORD: Yeah.

KOTB: Mm-hmm.

Mr. SHELTON: And as a musician, my gosh, I connected with immediately...

GIFFORD: Yeah.

KOTB: Yeah.

Mr. SHELTON: ...you know, so.

GIFFORD: So that's what you look for in songs, obviously. If you've got to sing it...

Mr. SHELTON: Actually, just...

GIFFORD: If it becomes a hit, you got to sing it for the rest of your life.

Mr. SHELTON: Actually, just looking for a hit. I really don't care what...

GIFFORD: I love that. He's so shallow.

KOTB: See?

GIFFORD: Oh.

KOTB: We love it. Wait...

GIFFORD: But honest.

KOTB: Yes, and cute. Wait.

Mr. SHELTON: No--you know, sometimes you--well, thank you.

KOTB: And cute. Let's just move on to this.

GIFFORD: Oh, we--oh, we have two versions?

KOTB: I think it's the same thing.

GIFFORD: You're a party guy. Still undecided--these--you're the sexiest Republican going, apparently.

KOTB: Sexiest Republican. You, Kid Rock, but you're the cutest in the line.

Mr. SHELTON: Really?

KOTB: Did you see--you didn't know?

GIFFORD: Yeah.

Mr. SHELTON: Yeah.

KOTB: See, that's what...

GIFFORD: Oh, you did know.

Mr. SHELTON: You think I'm cuter than Kid Rock?

KOTB: I think you are.

Mr. SHELTON: Ew. Man. That's...

GIFFORD: I think everybody's cuter than Kid Rock, I'm sorry.

Mr. SHELTON: ...stepping up. All right.

GIFFORD: Even Kid Rock's mother thinks so. Sorry. Got to get a new look.

Mr. SHELTON: There goes your interview with him too, now. Buble, Kid Rock.

KOTB: They're dropping like flies.

GIFFORD: So how--but what is this on your left arm?

Mr. SHELTON: That is--that's actually a tattoo.

GIFFORD: I know that, but what does it signify? Excuse me while I whack him.

Mr. SHELTON: Well, that's a--you know what, that--I don't really know, because I don't...

KOTB: Mm-hmm.

GIFFORD: Were you drunk when you got that?

Mr. SHELTON: I don't remember--I'll be honest with you, you know.

KOTB: You don't remember?

Mr. SHELTON: That's--I don't--I don't remember exactly what I was thinking with these.

KOTB: It's very manly.

GIFFORD: You know, it looks like bugs.

Mr. SHELTON: That's supposed to have been deer tracks, not bugs.

GIFFORD: It looks like bugs walking in between barbed wire. Why in the world would you put such a thing on your arm?

Mr. SHELTON: What are you talking about? It's not bugs at all. That's supposed to be deer tracks.

KOTB: Deer tracks?

GIFFORD: It looks like bugs.

Mr. SHELTON: You know what, there goes your interview with me, too. I'm never coming back. Kid Rock, Buble and now me.

KOTB: And now you.

Blake, are you on tour or are you...

Mr. SHELTON: We--yes, we are.

GIFFORD: He was.

Mr. SHELTON: In fact, now all my dates will cancel after this. But no, yesterday we were in New--we've done two shows in New York...

KOTB: Mm-hmm.

Mr. SHELTON: ...and, like Little Valley and then Horse--I'm telling you, people think of New York as this.

KOTB: The city.

GIFFORD: Yes.

Mr. SHELTON: And it is--there's some redneck areas out there...

GIFFORD: You...

Mr. SHELTON: ...which explains why, you know, they hired me to come in.

GIFFORD: Come back to my house, honey, it's as redneck...

KOTB: Yeah.

GIFFORD: ...as it gets there.

Mr. SHELTON: Is that right?

GIFFORD: Yeah, Connecticut. Whoo!

KOTB: And can I also tell you...

Mr. SHELTON: Whoa, that's out there.

KOTB: ...every time--every time we have country music on the plaza, I'm sorry, but it rocks the place.

GIFFORD: People go a little crazy.

Mr. SHELTON: Does it really?

KOTB: Yeah. We need you to come out on our plaza and sing for us.

Mr. SHELTON: I would--I would love to.

GIFFORD: And that's no BS, BS.

Mr. SHELTON: I would love to.

KOTB: Blake--see? Wasn't this fun?

GIFFORD: He's adorable.

KOTB: Can we play the song again just to go out?

GIFFORD: Yeah, can we?

Mr. SHELTON: Please, over and over again.

GIFFORD: Just--you sing it for us.

Mr. SHELTON: Can we make it the theme song for the show?

GIFFORD: Just sing a little for us. Sing a little for...

Mr. SHELTON: (Singing) Happy birthday...

GIFFORD: No, we got to pay for that.

Mr. SHELTON: Oh, OK, I got you.

GIFFORD: Oh, you are adorable. Come back anytime.

KOTB: Yes, anytime, Blake, thanks.

Mr. SHELTON: I love y'all.

KOTB: All right, love you too.

GIFFORD: Great to see you.

KOTB: We will be back with some highlights of the week, but first, this is TODAY on NBC.

GIFFORD: This is TODAY on NBC.