In the world of modern country music, Blake Shelton is now considered a “veteran”.
He does have the credentials: 22 No. 1 singles, 17 consecutive No. 1 songs, ten albums, and countless awards.
He broke out on the scene in 2001, and he looked just a tad different. He always donned a cowboy hat because “I was from Oklahoma, and we all wore cowboy hats,” he told The Boot.
He’s given his cowboy hat a rest, but his wardrobe has stayed pretty much the same: button down shirt or flannel, nice jeans, and boots.
“I don’t like myself in a T-shirt,” Shelton explains. “In 2001, you didn’t show up wearing a T-shirt and a baseball cap to be on stage, and that’s just still my mentality. Clearly I’m one of the last ones standing. I’m not saying I like to get totally dressed up, but I want to look like I put on something nice and fixed my hair. I’m just old, I guess.”
While he doesn’t understand the fashion of newer artists, that doesn’t mean he doesn’t understand the music.
The younger generation of country music, usually called “bro-country”, often receives flak for its “lack of country”, as well as its mention of trucks, beer, girls, and influences of hip-hop or pop.
Shelton is taking a stance, and standing up for bro-country artists, which include his good buddy Luke Bryan and longtime family friend, Thomas Rhett.
***Warning: Strong language.***
“It doesn’t sound offensive to me,” he explains. “The people that bitch and moan about bro-country needs to go bitch and moan to the millions of people that are buying it. It’s clearly something that connects with a lot of people out there. If you’re upset about it, go to your neighbor and say, ‘Quit buying that,’ not to the people that are making the music, because they’re making the music because it means something to them.”
Shelton knows that not everyone will like everyone single artists’ music, but you should not go after the artist.
“When I make a record, it’s because it means something to me,” he continues. “Don’t be mad at me about it. If you’re mad that it’s successful, go bitch at the people that are buying the tickets and the records, not me,” he says.
Do you agree with Shelton’s statements?
Check out his latest single, “She’s Got A Way With Words” below.
