Country Weekly (June 14th 2010)

Blake and Miranda sitting in a tree

It was never a matter of "if” but "when" for this country couple.

George & Tammy, Tim & Faith, Johnny & June, Waylon & Jessi and now Miranda & Blake—or is it Blake & Miranda? Or perhaps Bliranda, as some are calling the couple. Whatever they’ll be called, Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert instantly became one of country music’s storied couples when Blake recently asked for her hand in marriage—and she accepted.

As for the details of where and when Blake proposed, suffice it to say that it was likely true to Blake and Miranda’s down-home country roots. “We’ve kept a few of the details private, since we lead very public lives,” Miranda recently told Country Weekly, before adding, “It was very ‘country’ and very ‘us.’ I will say I had a stinky camo jacket on that I’d worn all day—that’s all I’ll say!”

In a separate interview, Blake offered a bit more information. “It was Mother’s Day,” he says. “Down in the woods on my property in Oklahoma. It was real special for both of us for a lot of reasons. But afterwards it looked like Talladega on up to our house so she could phone her friends and cousins and all that.

That was the most fun—to watch her reaction—because I knew what I was going to do. I was prepared. She wasn’t. Especially after five years. I’m sure she pretty much put it out of her mind.”

So, was Mother’s Day specifically chosen as the day? “It’s pretty handy. I’ll never forget the day we got engaged,” Blake allows with a laugh. “Mostly it had to do with timing of our schedules. This was one window when I knew we were going to have about four days by ourselves at our home in Oklahoma.”

When it comes to the ring itself— where and when Blake bought it, for example—Miranda says less is more, at least when it comes to details. “I don’t really know anything about the ring, except that I love it,” she says. “Kudos to Blake for knowing me that well and knowing exactly what I would want. I don’t know about the carats or cut or anything—I just know it’s shiny!” Blake’s take? “You’d be surprised at what you can get at Sears. I couldn’t find a Service Merchandise in the area,” he deadpans, before adding, “I think she was . . . she is impressed with the ring. Last night she was giving her dog a bath and I heard her come running out. ‘Where’s that ring? Son of a ... !

I put it on the deer horn.’ I said, ‘You put it on the deer horn?’ After about 20 minutes, she found it. But it made me realize how important it is to her. If it were me, I would have lost it in about five minutes after I got it. That’s a big deal for Miranda. She’s held on to it for a few days now without losing it. And I’m thanking God for that. I could have bought a nice fishing rod with the money I spent on that ring.”

Now come the important questions, such as when they’ll be married, where they’ll be wed and whether it will be a large or small wedding. While some plans are still up in the air, Miranda can answer the last question. “It will have to be big because Blake comes from a large family, and we have a lot of people to invite—friends and people from our work—there are so many,” she says. “Definitely, it’ll have to be big. [There’s] no way around it.”

Who will be in the wedding party? “Knowing me, Delilah [my first rescue dog] will probably be in the wedding,” Miranda admits. “But since we have six dogs, we’ll have to narrow it down.” Miranda, who bought an Oklahoma farm near Blake’s property a few years ago, says the decision over which property to sell may be a tough one. “There’s no way either one of us will sell our farms. I guess we’ll just have to visit each other!”

As for children, don’t expect the pitter-patter of little feet any time soon. “We have six [dogs], so we’ve got plenty for now,” Miranda says. “My mom already has lots of grandchildren!” Perhaps not surprisingly, Miranda has no qualms about letting Blake celebrate a bit before the nuptials occur, when¬ ever they occur. “We’ll probably have a joint bachelor/bachelorette party,” she says with a smile.

Wherever and whenever the wedding happens, Miranda is sure of one thing. “I’m marrying my best friend,” she says.

Three Academy of Country Music awards, her first No. 1 single (“White Liar”) and a proposal from the love of her life—“2010 has been an unforgettable year,” Miranda says in what may be the understatement of the year.