Will the Blake Shelton & Miranda Lambert Divorce End Their Monopoly on Mainstream Awards?
Blake Shelton proposed to Miranda Lambert in the woods near their home in Tishomingo, Oklahoma in 2010 after the country music power couple had been dating for some time before. Since then there hasn’t been one single winner of either the CMA’s Male Vocalist of the Year award or Female Vocalist of the Year award not named Blake Shelton or Miranda Lambert. Five years in a row now, Miranda and Blake have both walked away with two of country music’s top prizes, regardless if it was a big year or not for either in album sales, touring, or critical acclaim. It is the only run of awards show success of its kind in the history of country music.
On the ACM Awards side, the story is very similar. Miranda Lambert has won Top Female Vocalist of the Year honors every year since 2009—seven years in a row. Blake Shelton—the regular ACM Awards host, has been nominated every year since the couple got together, and won the Top Male Vocalist of the Year in 2011.
On Monday (7-20) it was announced that after four years of marriage and endless tabloid stories about the couple’s martial troubles, they are finally getting a divorce. “This is not the future we envisioned,” the couple said in a statement to the Associated Press. “And it is with heavy hearts that we move forward separately. We are real people, with real lives, with real families, friends and colleagues. Therefore, we kindly ask for privacy and compassion concerning this very personal matter.“
The top-heavy nature of mainstream country music over the last half decade has led to one of the largest gulfs between the have’s and the have not’s in music history, and nowhere has this been more illustrated than in the dominance of Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert in the Top Vocalist awards. Worthy artists looking for recognition regularly fail to even receive nominations because the same collusive list of names are stuck at the very top, while mainstream country music continues to struggle with substantive artist development, especially on the female side.
Where Miranda Lambert appears to be the last female the mainstream is willing to champion to result in significant commercial success (while it appears to be systematically deprecating Carrie Underwood when it comes to awards), Blake Shelton seems to have been receiving his CMA hardware more for his role as a reality TV judge as opposed to critical or commercial performance. Together, the couple was able to create a celebrity footprint that was bigger than the sum of their individual parts, securing their place in country music history as the dominant force the last half decade. This result is why so many celebrity couples come together in the first place—to benefit in a significant elevation of overall fame, though the Lambert / Shelton courtship appeared to begin sincere.
Nobody wins in a divorce or breakup, and you can list countless country songs, including some from Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert, that speak to this fact. But maybe this will be the moment mainstream country music moves on from its fascination with its first couple, and the unprecedented monopoly for the industry’s top awards.
But beyond all, Blake and Miranda are people, and their wishes for compassion during this time should be respected.
Lunchbox
July 20, 2015 @ 12:05 pm
yeah, that’s terrible. thought these crazy kids were gonna make it.
Curbcooler
July 22, 2015 @ 7:55 am
I sure as hell didn’t. They were never the same as “Tim & Faith” to me. I think Blake Shelton and Miranda Lamberts marriage is exactly like Beyoncé and Jay-Z marriage. Which means it is basically the most corporate relationship I have ever seen in country music. It’s pretty obvious now to everybody they only stayed together this long for buisness reasons.
Cobra
July 20, 2015 @ 12:06 pm
Without taking joy in someone’s divorce (I’m not), let’s face it: once
they got married is when Shelton’s music turned to complete garbage.
“Pure BS” was a a great album, and even “Starting Fires” was pretty
good, but after that, his music just went into a complete nosedive of
nothing but bro-country and trend-chasing trash.
Derek
July 20, 2015 @ 12:29 pm
It was around that same time that Blake took throne on ‘The Voice.’ I bet the time requirements to that show, more than anything, may have been the hinderance on his song quality moreso than his marriage.
Mike W.
July 20, 2015 @ 1:07 pm
The switch to producer Scott Hendricks cannot be overlooked either. Once Blake dropped Bobby Bradock, his music took a sharp turn to a “poppier” sound.
Albert
July 20, 2015 @ 5:26 pm
“Without taking joy in someone”™s divorce (I”™m not), let”™s face it: once
they got married is when Shelton”™s music turned to complete garbage.
“Pure BS” was a a great album, and even “Starting Fires” was pretty
good, but after that, his music just went into a complete nosedive of
nothing but bro-country and trend-chasing trash.”
This observation is even more interesting in light of the fact that Miranda kept finding / writing better and more substantive songs and , in my opinion , continues to do so . I’ve always been bewildered by the Blake ” nosedive” in song quality and often question why he wouldn’t be embarrassed by his output living in the same ‘ space’ as Miranda who was doing so much more legitimate work -alone and with the Pistol Annie’s- AND she was , indeed , rocking the country music boat to do it .
Jojo
July 20, 2015 @ 10:21 pm
Correct Albert. She’s an Artist who pushes boundaries. Blake de-valued her product by his association. Glad to see some people are still recognizing Miranda. She’s far superior to any ‘mainstream’.
Greg
July 21, 2015 @ 12:31 pm
Not to beat a dead horse, but Mr. Shelton was the one that said with all his accolades and awards he was in the position to have some say as which direction country music took… and it has sucked ever since! I said years ago that in ten years you wouldn’t be able to name one Blake Shelton song… on the other hand, Miranda has demonstrated she has more talent than he’ll ever have, the best career move he ever made was marrying her.
Banner
July 20, 2015 @ 10:16 pm
can’t say I have ever been a fan of bs, but remember when tim mcgraw married faith hill? he went from awesome to godawful.
kingfish
July 20, 2015 @ 12:20 pm
it’s too bad Chely Wright is already married, because she and Miranda would make a helluva couple.
Eric
July 20, 2015 @ 7:12 pm
LOL!
FeedThemHogs
July 20, 2015 @ 12:30 pm
“Staying married was the only way to work your problems out.” I guess it wasn’t so automatic after all.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 12:33 pm
Zing! 😉
Melissa
July 20, 2015 @ 1:00 pm
I feel terrible for laughing at that 😛
FeedThemHogs
July 20, 2015 @ 1:34 pm
If Miranda hadn’t co-written that song, I wouldn’t have put it. But not caring for her what seems to be a fake personality and attitude in performances, and my strong dislike for hypocrites, I felt like it had to be said.
Siri
July 20, 2015 @ 8:52 pm
That was a line that Natalie Hemby championed so let’s get it straight. She has said so many times.
FeedThemHogs
July 21, 2015 @ 9:55 am
Ah well. I guess I was in the wrong here then. Oh well. Won’t be the last time.
memee
February 5, 2016 @ 4:49 pm
Look at Carrie underwood then!
memee
March 11, 2016 @ 5:18 pm
An what do you think Carrie underwood is ?
BrettS
July 20, 2015 @ 1:18 pm
Bam! Just like that you win the comment section on this one bahahaha!
Scotty J
July 20, 2015 @ 1:42 pm
Do you know that she didn’t want to stay married? Maybe it was all him. I have no idea and neither does anyone else on here.
I hate with a passion when people start talking about other people’s marriages. We know nothing about these two people’s lives.
dcjordan94
July 25, 2015 @ 10:16 am
I agree that it is kind of 2 faced to write that then get a divorce; but in fairness Blake was the one who filed for divorce, and if he wanted one that bad she couldn’t do too much about it.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 12:32 pm
Without a doubt.
I know that sounds cynical, but let’s face it: in our celebrity-centric culture, “power couples” fascinate a sizable portion of the population. Many can’t help but marvel at whatever “example” they set. And especially in the country community where at least traditionally family, God and country have long been defining tropes………………married country entertainers provide them not just some degree of legitimacy among fans, but some degree of added professional clout in the business sense.
In fairness, Blake Shelton was already on the decline with inferior album sales and simply being outdone in net popularity by Luke Bryan and arguably Sam Hunt now. He still has “The Voice” to his advantage, but it’s quite clear that his marriage to Miranda Lambert is one of the main things that helped refine his personality to the mainstream and make him appear particularly likeable.
This past year has also been dicey for Miranda Lambert where, despite still remaining a touring favorite and retaining considerable critical acclaim, her airplay has weakened markedly (“Smokin’ & Drinkin'” is off to a woeful start at radio) and “Platinum” has lacked legs in sales despite a strong debut. I mean, don’t get me wrong. “Platinum” has sold respectably at 716,000 copies sold to date. But when you look at the bigger picture, its sales have been very quiet for the past quarter. It”™s at #176 on the Billboard 200 this week, and hasn”™t appeared in Billboard Top 25 Country Albums listing for six weeks now and was straddling below the Top Twenty before then for about a month and a half.
Yes, “Platinum” has obviously sold better than the solid majority of A and B-list bro-influenced male country entertainers. But that”™s just one side of the story and it is important to maintain a broader perspective. Chart longevity also matters a whole lot. And when it comes to chart longevity, “Platinum” hasn”™t fared as well as “Revolution” or “Four The Record”. “Platinum” may have sold nearly three times as many copies out of the gate as “Revolution” did, but “Revolution” has flourished via the slow and steady wins the race approach and is right on the cusp of two million units sold.
So when all of that is factored into the equation that is Lambert’s stature as an entertainer……………..I think Carrie Underwood has her first sure opportunity to finally give Lambert a run for her money at the next round of award shows (Some may argue Kacey Musgraves has an outside shot as well, but I do not yet see it.) And as long as Taylor Swift and others keep endorsing Kelsea Ballerini as the next big thing for females in “country” music, she can very well pull an upset too soon enough.
*
Without a doubt this is going to end their monopolizing on awards shows.
Trigger
July 20, 2015 @ 1:37 pm
“Smokin’ & Drinkin’ ” was yet another horrible single choice for a mainstream country female.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 2:02 pm
I absolutely agree.
Frankly, it’s as much her fault as her label’s for failing to see the writing on the wall with “Little Red Wagon” greatly underperforming…………….and realizing they needed to reverse course to something that more resembled the “Revolution” era to ease the growing discontent among Lambert’s core fanbase.
I would have released either “Roots & Wings” as part of a re-release of “Platinum” (because, frankly, the album hasn’t sold well over the past quarter and so if ever there was a legitimate excuse for a re-release, it would be to include “Roots & Wings” and possibly a couple other better songs on it)……………or “Priscilla” if she insisted in ruling out re-releases.
Lunchbox
July 20, 2015 @ 12:46 pm
Team Miranda
Jack Williams
July 20, 2015 @ 12:48 pm
No shit? 😉
Jack Williams
July 20, 2015 @ 12:51 pm
I’m Team Elizabeth, myself. Team Lindi in the Canadian league.
Lunchbox
July 20, 2015 @ 5:20 pm
i need to hire a GM. i’m ashamed to admit i don’t know much about lady canadian country singers other then Lindi Ortega. you would think Minnesota would be crawling with those people too and we’re not. sad really.
Albert
July 20, 2015 @ 5:44 pm
Don’t feel bad , Lunchbox . I’m up here in Vancouver and I have watched God knows how many terrific Canadian artists – male and female – try and fail to SUCCESSFULLY break into the States . I mean LOTS . Canada is just such a small population to count on for a serious Country Music career that it is absolutely essential that you get a toehold in the American market . Many get one shot ..maybe two singles …but I’d estimate that 99% are stuck here and playing Europe a bit . Not sure why .. ..some have said that their Canadian management was the issue . My gut tells me its more than that , though .CRTC dictates that 30% of radio up here HAS to be Canadian …by law. That may be a good thing for the Canadian Industry but is akin to protectionism ,I feel , and means that folks who may otherwise NEVER get a shot because they just plain don’t deserve it are given that shot by law.Maybe that taints things ? For every promising artist I hear from Canada , I can find 100 as good or better in the States -just on You Tube , for God’s sakes.Not knocking our artists at all …..its just tough to break into someplace that is already overflowing with talented people . The good news is that a lot of Canadian writers seem to fare very well in Nashville and they still have Canada as a touring market .
Frank the tank
July 20, 2015 @ 8:51 pm
Albert, as a fellow Canadian, I have mixed thoughts about the CRTC.
On one hand, it does give good artists an opportunity to get exposure when they otherwise might not (would Lisa Brokop, Prairie Oyster and Michelle Wright, to name three of my favourite 90s Canadian country artists, have had the success they did if not for the CRTC? Who knows)?
On the other hand, it also results in a lot of bad artists getting much more exposure than they should in order to meet the Canadian content threshold. (I would often hear certain artists on the radio and assume that they were being played in order for the radio station to meet the Canadian content threshold and not because anyone thought they were good and/or wanted to hear them).
Hawkeye
August 20, 2015 @ 3:12 pm
I am personally Team Edward (Van Halen).
Derek E. Sullivan
July 20, 2015 @ 1:04 pm
Miranda’s run has to end. It just seems like Carrie has been putting out better music of late. As for Blake, his current album has been a dud. Plus when facts come out that he cheated on Miranda, and I believe they will, he will suffer a blow I’m sure with the female music buying population.
This may sound dumb, but I think Miranda needs to filter her anger/sadness over this divorce into her music. She’s a hell of a writer and I think her next album might be her most honest and raw. At least I hope so.
Mike W.
July 20, 2015 @ 1:11 pm
Jason Aldean would be proof that the Country music audience really doesn’t care if a male star did cheat.
Granted, Lambert fans would likely be pissed and that might create backlash, but Aldean sure is riding high even though you can make a strong argument his actions were far worse than anything Blake may have done.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 1:31 pm
Yeah, Aldean is currently enjoying the longest streak of #1 singles of his entire career to date, and it was around the time “When She Says Baby” was initially released to radio that the fallout occurred.
The sexist double standard is infuriating. When a male entertainer cheats, many aren’t necessarily thrilled by it but nonetheless primarily keep their expressions of contempt limited to posting disparaging remarks on one’s Facebook page while a large percentage will say “Eh, he’s just doing what he had to do!”. When a female entertainer cheats, she is vociferously slut-shamed and their properties are often vandalized………….sometimes to the degree of pressuring her to move beyond that community. =(
Albert
July 20, 2015 @ 6:10 pm
“The sexist double standard is infuriating. When a male entertainer cheats, many aren”™t necessarily thrilled by it but nonetheless primarily keep their expressions of contempt limited to posting disparaging remarks on one”™s Facebook page while a large .etc…….”
Your observations are pretty accurate , I’d say ,Nadia . I was curious about Blake’s success ( it ain’t the songs ) until I asked folks at my gigs . Guys had almost NO opinion of him one way or the other . BUT the women LOVE this guy . I mean they LOVE Blake’s image and looks and his voice . They never mention a particular song ….just BLAKE himself . When you don’t sing anything of substance , the image is everything . That’s just a given , of course . But with that in mind , most woman hearing of a newly -divorced hunk just see him as available and don’t really seem to be interested in the who what when where and whys unless he’s a serial killer . I’m not sure this divorce is going to hurt Blake’s popularity at all .
Amanda
July 22, 2015 @ 8:33 pm
Women loved him because of his likeability and how much he loved his wife. If he did cheat, his female fanbase will not like that much. He will seem to be like a drunken liar that he a LA PR team slam her. So I hope she keeps in staying quiet and let him sink himself. A video already came out if him 2 days before toasting to divorce. What an A hole.
Rosalie
July 20, 2015 @ 1:50 pm
Not saying he actually did cheat, but I think it would be a whole lot different for Blake if he did cheat. Jason Aldean cheated on a nobody (I don’t mean this in a rude way, I’m just saying she’s not famous), but Blake, if he did cheat, cheated on a HUGE country star, with a HUGE following of her own. There’s no doubt there would be some backlash against him. The difference between Blake and all the other country stars who have cheated (in recent memory) is that the partner is usually not famous in their own right, in this case she is.
Mike W.
July 20, 2015 @ 6:39 pm
This is true to a point, but Aldean legitimately tore his family, with kids, apart. To me that’s a bigger issue than if Blake did anything.
I don’t care much either way, but if something did happen, I bet female Blake fans would blame Miranda. Social media was filled with women blaming Aldeans ex for pushing him away or whatever. A lot of Country music fans are morons sadly.
Scotty J
July 20, 2015 @ 1:55 pm
Seriously who cares if they both were cheating? If only the marital faithful were revered in country music the HOF would be hell of a lot emptier.
I think how this affects their careers going forward is an interesting topic to discuss but a an unsubstantiated gossipfest is so pathetic.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 20, 2015 @ 4:09 pm
Yeah, I’m shocked that this many people know, let alone care, this much about the dirty details of their relationship. I had no idea that they were even having problems until I saw this article.
But, I do assiduously avoid any knowledge of my favorite artists’ personal lives and views. I hate hearing about stuff like Shailene Woodley saying she’s not a feminist, or anything Kanye West has said or done publicly since that Grammy incident, or Orson Scott Card going crazy over the last few years, because I don’t want it to color my appreciation of their work.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 1:23 pm
Miranda Lambert has put out the better music between the two overall, in my opinion, and “Platinum”……………as uneven as it was………………still bolstered some standout moments of which none, unfortunately, have made it to radio.
That said, Carrie Underwood has improved markedly these past several years while Lambert has regressed from “Revolution”. Though the singles didn’t impress me, “Blown Away” is Underwood’s strongest album to date in my opinion and had some quality tracks like “Wine After Whiskey” and “Do You Think About Me”. And her last two hits are her best yet, in my opinion.
Look, I’m saddened as most anyone that their marriage hit a snag and genuinely was hoping for the best. But I suspected it was unlikely to last that long to begin with, and it doesn’t even have anything to do with the tireless speculation of Shelton’s “wandering eye” in all recent memory. I thought it wouldn’t last long because of the toils of juggling their many professional commitments…………….coupled with the fact their personalities are opposite in many ways. It just wasn’t sustainable in my mind.
Still, I sympathize deeply with the both of them today. I can’t imagine how gutted they both must feel right now.
Trigger
July 20, 2015 @ 1:41 pm
The issue for Carrie is that she’s not had a proper album release since 2012. Don’t blame her, she took off some time for family, and her two singles from her Greatest Hits comp did very well. But it’s kind of hard to hand her a major award when others have newer output.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 2:06 pm
I agree, and my previous comment was speaking more to the overall arc of both artists in terms of quality over these past few years.
It’s clear Carrie Underwood is still at a strategic disadvantage this particular go-around in that she hasn’t released a proper studio album. I won’t be surprised whatsoever if Miranda Lambert manages to squeak by a sixth consecutive CMA title before conceding from then on out.
Scotty J
July 20, 2015 @ 2:13 pm
As we talked elsewhere I think looking back this album cycle will be seen as the beginning of the decline for Lambert as the hits haven’t come so easy and the quality has declined considerably in my opinion. Doesn’t mean she won’t have more hits and she could definitely make more great music but from a commercial standpoint I think she has peaked and now it’s only a question of how long she maintains a top tier spot.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 2:19 pm
Right.
I’m absolutely confident “Revolution” is going to be remembered as her masterpiece when all is said and done. And while “Four The Record” certainly marked a net decline from “Revolution”, I think it will still be looked at as a plateau for her in that it was also her most successful singles album.
Where “Revolution” represents a mountain peak and “Four The Record” a plateau, “Platinum” will resemble a high plain. Still at an advantage over most of her chart rivals, but decidedly flatter all the same as far as momentum and stature is concerned.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 20, 2015 @ 1:07 pm
Well, as long as Isbell and Shires are still together, I don’t care all that much, haha.
After the Robisons a couple years ago, and now this, it looks like they’re pretty much the top dog country couple.
BrettS
July 20, 2015 @ 1:20 pm
X 2. Isbell and Shires. Now that’s a country couple.
Mike
July 20, 2015 @ 4:21 pm
Let’s not forget Jason Eady and Courtney Patton.
Frank the tank
July 20, 2015 @ 6:58 pm
What about the other Robison’s (Bruce and Kelly Willis)? They’re still together, aren’t they?
Cool Lester Smooth
July 20, 2015 @ 7:20 pm
Yeah, and making awesome music…which makes me realize I should have specified with Robison brother I was talking about, haha.
Frank the tank
July 20, 2015 @ 8:16 pm
Agreed about the great music. I’ve really been into “Motor City Man” lately.
JC Eldredge
July 20, 2015 @ 1:12 pm
I wonder if they will even show at the same awards shows for a while. They had a joint concert here, first week of July, and afterwards the rumor mills were buzzing because they didn’t perform together, mention each other, or even appear together at all.
Trigger
July 20, 2015 @ 1:43 pm
Yeah, that’s going to be tough, especially since Blake hosts the ACM’s. That’s why I have a sense the run is over. Maybe they’ll split the CMA’s and the ACM’s down the middle.
Erica
July 20, 2015 @ 1:25 pm
I hope this means Miranda gets back to making some quality music that isn’t over-produced stereotypes of country women. More like where she was going with “Revolution”.
Blake – well, whatever.
Joe
July 20, 2015 @ 1:34 pm
Am I wrong to think they’ll both become even bigger stars now? Other comments here are saying his biggest successes came before the marriage. Mainstream media hyped his Twitter account long before The Voice. And she built a career on songs about burning down the house and showing the man who’s boss. If anything, pretending they were blissfully married hampered both of their reputations. It seems to me that, if they play their cards right, each of them will see an enormous career bump.
All they have to do is pick, or write, the right collection of songs, then wink into the camera and say, “I’m back!” and it’s all over. In a few years people’ll be like, “It’s hard to believe they were ever married, much less to each other.”
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 1:47 pm
I’m pretty confident it will weaken both of them, regardless if there’s any greater negative fallout surrounding one or both of them cheating, Shelton’s alcoholism possibly playing a part in it, etc.
Like it or not, star marriages make emotionally-charged impressions on many Americans. I’ve seen a LOT of disappointed, sad responses on message boards and Facebook alone that interject along the lines of “Nooooooooooo! I truly thought they were going to last!” There’s a heartwarming almost-mythology to celebrity marriage that many can’t help but idolize and I doubt tens of thousands are going to look either one of them in the eye without forgetting their association with each other previously.
And Shelton’s biggest successes unquestionably have come after he got married to begin with. The vast majority of his #1 hits have transpired from 2011 onward. His best-selling album by far, “Based On A True Story”, was released during the middle of their years as a wedded couple and its runner-up “Red River Blue” was released in 2011. And though he admittedly did win “Male Vocalist of the Year” at the CMAs in 2010, he didn’t win “Entertainer of the Year” until 2012.
Granted it could be argued “The Voice” actually has more sway than this marriage to begin with, but it can’t be argued Shelton’s biggest successes have transpired during his years wedded to Lambert.
Cool Lester Smooth
July 20, 2015 @ 4:03 pm
The only “star” marriage I truly care about is Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly. Amy Poehler and Will Arnett getting divorced has already destroyed my faith in “celebrity love,” haha.
Rosalie
July 21, 2015 @ 2:37 am
NICK OFFERMAN AND MEGAN MULLALY!!
(Yes, Amy Poehler’s divorced crushed me as well)
That is all.
Six String Richie
July 20, 2015 @ 1:48 pm
I think for a couple weeks they’ll get a lot of attention, from the mainstream and the country outlets. It might give a boost to Lambert’s new single “Smokin’ and Drinkin.'” That’s a poorly timed single release.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 2:15 pm
We’ll just have to wait and see.
“Smokin’ & Drinkin'” is definitely off to a poor start, that’s for sure. And it has just been announced that “Gonna” will be Shelton’s new single, so we’ll have to see how this full chart run pans out. Especially in that I do think “Gonna” is tied for the safest radio choice he possibly could have made along with “Just Getting Started” so, on the surface, it’s another surefire #1 in the making.
Six String Richie
July 20, 2015 @ 1:46 pm
The love affair that these two enjoyed from awards shows, the media and radio has really gotten on my nerves the past few years. I’m hoping that it ends now.
I’m curious if their rabid fan bases will pick sides. As in, will Miranda fans choose not to support Blake or vice versa? That could be devastating to both of their careers. Additionally, if it comes out that either of them cheated or something like that, things could get ugly amongst the fan bases. Especially considering Lambert’s songs about killing cheating boyfriends.
Six String Richie
July 20, 2015 @ 1:52 pm
Also, to my knowledge, Blake was a heavy drinker. Could that have played a role? And if so, will that help his legacy (being viewed as a troubled soul with an addiction) or hurt it (for promoting partying and getting drunk when he should’ve focused on his marriage).
Plus, if he has a drinking problem, that will totally change his persona as the hard drinkin’ funny guy that’s the life of the party.
Scotty J
July 20, 2015 @ 1:56 pm
I know because he would be the first heavy drinker in country music history.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 2:12 pm
I say this not meaning to stigmatize the emotionally complex issue that is alcohol dependence……………but Shelton has affirmed in his own words repeatedly that he is indeed a heavy drinker and not the least ashamed of it.
On the surface, that suggests a refreshing degree of self-awareness, but it could also just as much be construed as a cop-out or excuse-making from some sort of personal responsibility…………which may have reached critical mass more recently.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 1:57 pm
I think both will decline in popularity, but Lambert probably has the more to lose between the two.
On the surface, it may seem it’s the other way around because of the line of reasoning you shared (which I agree could very well happen). But the reality is it remains a brutal industry for female artists and entertainers in general and, coupled with already dicey results in terms of singles and sales for “Platinum” this past year……………there are some real ugly, sexist stereotypes surrounding females and relationships that remain prevalent in the cultural psyche and you can bet many will attempt to accuse Lambert of being controlling in their relationship and they’ll use her aggressive songs to unfairly make that speculation, while Lambert’s fans will pounce on both Shelton and Lambert’s previous admissions that Shelton continues to struggle with alcohol on and off to add fuel to their fiery speculations.
I hope this doesn’t happen, obviously, but given the surplus of acerbic break-up songs congesting the airwaves across virtually all formats in recent years………….I think this is likely to happen to some degree, sadly! =/
JC Eldredge
July 20, 2015 @ 2:01 pm
Check out the #TeamMiranda Twitter hashtag. People are definitely picking sides. Mostly hers, since he filed, I would guess.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 2:34 pm
If it was indeed Shelton who filed, it’s interesting because it was also Jason Aldean who filed for divorce as well from his previous marriage.
Trigger
July 20, 2015 @ 3:46 pm
Miranda Lambert has a pretty ardent fan base that is going to rally behind her. I’m already catching some grief for this article because I didn’t choose a side. I don’t think Blake can say as much. He’s more of the celebrity-at-large.
JC Eldredge
July 20, 2015 @ 5:09 pm
Trigger, do you know if she filed as well? I’m not sure how it works everywhere, but here a spouse can counter-file. I’m curious what the reason was, generic “irreconcilable differences”? I don’t feel like he cheated, he has always come across (to me anyways) as needy and smothering. All of his comments about not being able to live without her and her being his life, ect. Almost an infatuation. She was so young when they got together, maybe now that she’s matured she started to push back.
Trigger
July 20, 2015 @ 5:41 pm
Honestly, I don’t have any knowledge on the details of the divorce, and don’t have any desire to get into them whatsoever. If other folks want to, have at it. But really I don’t think it’s any of our business. I don’t care who filed, who cheated on who, who has a drinking problem, none of it. My interest in this matter is how it might affect country music since their status as a couple was a significant dynamic in the mainstream for the last half decade.
Antica
July 20, 2015 @ 2:22 pm
I don’t think this is coincidence, what with the recent supreme court ruling and all. I wouldn’t be surprised if next year’s ACM awards are hosted by Mr. and Mr. Luke Shelton… Or Blake Bryan.
Kale
July 20, 2015 @ 2:24 pm
Now I feel guilty for my earlier comments… Oh well. Maybe now that Miranda doesn’t have to worry about upsetting Blake, maybe she can lead females to take a stand against bro/metro crap. If only Blake would go back to his “Austin” days and stop singing crap like “Sangria.”
Cool Lester Smooth
July 20, 2015 @ 4:01 pm
The sad part is that “Sangria” is actually one of his better recent songs.
(Although I will unabashedly defend Neon Light as being decent).
Fuzzy TwoShirts
July 20, 2015 @ 6:25 pm
Neon Light is a great tune, and by the dismal standards set by country radio is a masterpiece, and Blake’s performance is spectacular. I like your philosophy of ignoring artists behavior so as only to appreciate their work, but I myself cannot tolerate his personality.
Eric
July 20, 2015 @ 2:48 pm
This is very sad, as they seemed like a very happy couple. Nonetheless, when analyzing their differing personalities, I suppose it’s not extremely surprising. Miranda seems to feature a certain seriousness up to the point of coldness, whereas Blake seems quite jovial. I don’t know if cheating was involved, but it seems likely that this personality gap helped fray the marriage.
Music is of small importance compared to personal fulfillment, but I will say that one positive outcome of the marriage has been the rise of Ashley Monroe.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 2:55 pm
That’s exactly why I predicted from the start that their marriage wouldn’t last that long.
I know most will speculate its either Shelton’s “wandering eye”, Lambert’s “controlling behavior” or a combination of the two that led to this. But to me, the phrase “opposites attract” can only go so far. I think, more than anything, the toils of touring and professional life……………..as well as the fact that there were wide disparities between the two as far as personality is concerned…………..was why I had always thought this wouldn’t be a “love for the ages”.
I respect them both that they gave it a shot, at any rate, and had the tenacity for a while to see it through in insisting “Divorce is not an option.” I think, ultimately, it just wasn’t sustainable.
Eduardo Vargas
July 21, 2015 @ 1:33 pm
I agree with both. Part of the issue I guess is that both of them where somewhat temperamental in their personalities. It doesn’t take much to see that Miranda is somewhat prone to anger with her songs, and Blake is also quite prone to swearing and such in his Twitter account. Essentially if both can get angry and have fights easily, it kind of falls apart on it’s own.
Nadia Lockheart
July 21, 2015 @ 2:45 pm
Yeah, I agree with your insight.
I think, in “real life”, Lambert is actually a lot more laid-back than her angry revenge fantasy hits make her out to be. You sense that through her advocacy for animals and her overall propensity to nurture others as well as how central family is to her. But I can nonetheless also see where all the “possessive” or “controlling” vibes come from like I’ve heard from other discussions.
Conversely, despite his laid-back (though off-color) image, Shelton has always struck me as more passive-aggressive than that makes him out to be. His Twitter habits expose that if you look at patterns of what he writes.
They were just too volatile a cocktail of clashing personality differences to stick it out for the long haul. Again, however, I respect they made a valiant effort to make it work over the course of four years. That, in itself, was longer than I thought it would last.
Jesus' great great grandfather
July 20, 2015 @ 2:52 pm
I was expecting these two to come to C2C2016 (a ‘country’ music festival in the UK) but maybe not now. Which is good, because we can have Florida Georgia Line again. #SarcasmAlert.
Strait Country 81
July 20, 2015 @ 3:57 pm
I wouldn’t doubt he was doing Christina or maybe Miranda was messing around
who knows?
Six String Richie
July 20, 2015 @ 4:02 pm
In an era of idiotic drinking and party songs, and of country music concerts being just an excuse to get drunk at the baseball stadium, I wonder if Shelton having a drinking problem would change things. I of course don’t know if he is an alcoholic but if he was and had to quit, would that change the attitude about drinking in his music and at his shows? If he entered rehab, it would be a huge story.
Would other country artists take note and go a little easier on the drinking references in their music and concerts?
Cool Lester Smooth
July 20, 2015 @ 4:23 pm
The thing is, Shelton’s drinking songs aren’t “PAR-TAY!!!!” binge-drinking stuff. They’re usually either Jimmy Buffet knockoffs, or about going out to a bar and having drinks with a girl you’re trying to sleep with.
It’ll only be a thing if one of the actual “bros,” the ones driving this train, rather than hopping on it, has to get help.
Eric
July 20, 2015 @ 6:53 pm
Currently, the 4 most important male singers in country music are Luke Bryan, Jason Aldean, Eric Church, and Blake Shelton. Ironically, two of them (Luke Bryan and Blake Shelton) are spending their career peak years chasing trends rather than setting them. Say what you want about Jason Aldean and Eric Church, but at least they are doing things their own way rather than following other singers. Aldean popularized country-rap to begin with, and Church is always musically creative.
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 7:03 pm
Jason Aldean tends to steep one boot in thé worst of lyrical cliches, however, while the other is planted on relative comparative depth in thé vein of chicken-fried Adult Contemporary.
Éric Church kind of flirts with clichés but generally doesn’t dive headfirst into them (although he does rely on hard liquor and marijuana too often as crutches)
Eric
July 20, 2015 @ 7:07 pm
Oh don’t get me wrong: I think that Jason Aldean’s lyrics and music are both horrible. Unlike Blake or Luke, he sets trends for country music–in a bad way.
Eric Church’s lyrics tend to be quite cliché, but he does feature interesting music (though it does not really appeal to me and certainly does not fall within the realm of country).
Cool Lester Smooth
July 20, 2015 @ 7:22 pm
Eh, I actually really like Eric Church, 70% of “The Outsiders” notwithstanding, but I do like rock/country fusion stuff a lot more than you do, haha.
Nadia Lockheart
July 21, 2015 @ 2:48 pm
I love my share of rock/country a lot, in fact! ^__^
Th’ Legendary Shack Shakers and Left Lane Cruiser are fabulous examples of that fusion done right! Heck, Counting Crows were one of my favorite bands growing up (and still are among my favorites) and though they definitely are decidedly more rock in their sound, lyrically Duritz has always had country sensibilities! ^__^
Fuzzy TwoShirts
July 20, 2015 @ 4:31 pm
Hmm, I never guessed they were having problems. I work in a grocery store this summer, rather than take classes. Every day I see some absurd headline down among the magazines: Dolly is homosexual, Dolly is suicidal, Miranda and Blake are splitsville, Sam Hunt this, Sam Hunt that, Miranda and Blake are finished. I never would have imagined it would actually happen. My parents just celebrated their 29th this month. I think the best country songs ever about divorce come from Glen Campbell’s “Walking on Sunshine” album. I’m of course talking about “Cheatin Is” and “Somebody’s Leaving.”
Who knows, maybe actually living a real country song for once might make Blake record one.
Clint
July 20, 2015 @ 5:37 pm
I was thinking the same thing, Fuzz. I’m not a huge fan of Blake’s voice, but I don’t hate it either, and it would be cool if he did a Country album as a result of this.
Acca Dacca
July 20, 2015 @ 8:35 pm
He has. See Pure BS or his debut. The former even includes a song with George Jones and John Anderson.
Clint
July 20, 2015 @ 9:39 pm
AD,
I haven’t been receiving email notifications when someone replies to me. I’ve had to go back and check my comments in case someone speaks to me, for almost a week now. Are you having the same issue?
Acca Dacca
July 20, 2015 @ 9:47 pm
No. Might email Trigger and see about that. It could have something to do with your Gravatar account settings.
Trigger
July 20, 2015 @ 9:54 pm
I’ll check on it. The email reply notifications can get buggy at times and stop working, then start working again for no apparent reason. You might also double check your email the next time you leave a comment to make sure it’s correct.
Frank the tank
July 20, 2015 @ 11:20 pm
I’m having the same issue Clint.
pete marshall
July 20, 2015 @ 4:58 pm
Wow I am very shock about this.
sweet on stuart
July 20, 2015 @ 5:00 pm
Not sure if Miranda fans are Blake fans and vice versa. Miranda has said in the past that she doesn’t particularly like the kind of music Blake makes. She’s more red dirt and he’s more pop, for lack of a better word. Me, I do not really like Blake’s stuff save for some stuff here and there while Miranda is one of my top popular country artists.
I don’t worry about her future. When she’s 40+ she’ll be in a career similar to the Emmylou’s, Rosanne Cash’s and Lucinda Williams. I don’t really think she cares much for the hoopla of celebrity after a certain point. It’s a necessary evil now but it will become less so as she gets older.
Blake? Not sure about his career after the inevitable decline all artists go through. Can he be a Dwight, a Marty or even a Vince? Doubtful , in my opinion. But maybe there is a true artist in there waiting to come out.
Sorry for both of them. They’re just people with issues, like the rest of us. Hope they can remain friends after a period of mourning.
I’m sure Miranda’s got lots of material for the next album seeing as the divorce is final.
Good luck to both of them.
RD
July 20, 2015 @ 5:28 pm
Scandalous. She must be unable to bear children.
Amanda
July 22, 2015 @ 8:49 pm
That is why he filed. He knew she couldn’t bear him any longer.
Truth No. 2
July 20, 2015 @ 6:06 pm
If it turns out Miranda had the good sense to divorce Blake before he cheats on her, I’ll buy her next album. If it turns out Blake had already cheated on her, well I can’t really hate Blake more than I do already, so..
Albert
July 20, 2015 @ 6:14 pm
I wonder how this will affect Bill Cosby’s decision to release that country album ?…Wha……?
Fuzzy TwoShirts
July 20, 2015 @ 6:37 pm
maybe Miranda has more allegations against him hahaha.
but seriously, I love Mr. Cosby… I wish they’d put him back on the television…
Nadia Lockheart
July 20, 2015 @ 7:05 pm
Or Jared Fogle: regardless of the end verdict! =P
hoptowntiger
July 20, 2015 @ 6:53 pm
#teamMiranda
I don’t want to take joy in a failed marriage, but I’ve been waiting for this day to come. I can’t stand Blake. She can do so much better.
Lindsey
July 20, 2015 @ 7:29 pm
I heard Gary Allan say one time that a musician is married to music, first and foremost. Therefore, it’s very hard to maintain a relationship. These two used to seem very authentic about their music, then they got in a famous relationship and have made lots of money. They both have sold out (Blake more than Miranda) on what brought them together in the first place. Hopefully, lessons learned. And good music to come.
Mike W.
July 21, 2015 @ 10:45 am
Not to analyze another person’s relationship, but let’s face facts….the fact that Blake was still married when he first met Miranda or became attracted to her probably wasnt a good omen either.
pete marshall
July 20, 2015 @ 8:36 pm
I am shocked and I wish them both luck in their seperate future.
Jen
July 20, 2015 @ 9:05 pm
It’s hard enough for non stars to be married. As we know at least 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Or it may be even higher now. If you look on IMBD at any particular star or singer, the majority have had at least two or three marriages. I like both of them, but nothing surprises me. Can you imagine the scrutiny you would be under being famous? I wouldn’t want it. And yes, I think their monopoly is over. Blake is from my home state and I think he’s a likable funny/entertaining guy. But IMO, the last good song he made was “Austin”. I like Miranda and I remember her when she was on Nashville Star.
Dana M
July 20, 2015 @ 9:28 pm
I kind of hope this returns Miranda Lambert back to “Revolution” form.
RD
July 21, 2015 @ 10:48 am
What was the “Revolution” Melinda was talking about? I must have missed it. I liked the Stones and Guns ‘n Roses version of Dead Flowers a lot better than the version that Jack Lambert did… Hell, G.G. Allin did a better version…
Brian
July 21, 2015 @ 1:10 pm
Not saying it’s true, but it seems the early media reports are speculating that she had an affair. That may not be true, but it seems like most of the time they are often right on things that celebrities are constantly denying. I saw Chris Young has even come out to say the rumors that he and Miranda had an affair are not true.
pete marshall
July 21, 2015 @ 2:19 pm
I heard on the radio 2 hours ago that the finger pointing is at Miranda for cheating. she was seeing 2 people. if it’s true shame on her. She had 3 released crappy singles anyway and good luck on her future cd sales.
Nadia Lockheart
July 21, 2015 @ 4:33 pm
Source(s)?
I think, this early in the game especially, it isn’t wise to subsume #TeamMiranda and #TeamBlake posturing; especially seeing they both requested in their statement that they wish for their privacy to be respected during this time.
I would steer entirely clear of any resource that features “TMZ”, “Classicalite” (who have been obsessing over seeing a Tim McGraw & Faith Hill divorce endlessly) or “The Sun” in the title, for example.
Root Beer Man
July 21, 2015 @ 6:37 pm
rumor has it that Blake caught Miranda listening to a Loretta Lynn record and immediately deemed her too much of an “old fart” for his liking then filed for divorce!
Kristi
July 22, 2015 @ 6:29 am
So saddened by the news. Can’t wait to hear Miranda’s new songs that come from this break up! Amped up for sure. Tragedy brings good song writin’.
Maybe they’ll go back to basics.
marky mark
July 22, 2015 @ 1:14 pm
Celebrity super couple nicknames: First there was Brangelina and TomKat, then most recently, KimYe. Yet oddly, there was never to my knowledge a super couple nickname for Miranda and Blake. Maybe in light of this news, i am bit late to the party with this, but i nominate, “Shambert”.
CamieJo
July 23, 2015 @ 9:43 pm
Trace Adkins. How well is he doing these days…divorce does affect sells, perceptions and the female fan base. He aged overnight.
I wish they’d tear the papers up and work it out.