When the single “Austin” was released in 2001, Blake Tollison Shelton, born in 1976, literally became famous overnight. As the song spent 5 weeks at number one on the Billboard music chart, Blake turned out to be a new idol in the world of country music.
God bless his uncle who taught him to play the guitar when future music star was only 12. Since then, Shelton has made music not just a hobby, but the life work.
In 2011, Blake Shelton also gained fame as a couch on the popular TV singing contest “The Voice”. Being a coach to the wannabe singers, he has won the competition for six times. Moreover, the starry Blake was the first musician playing country to win People’s Choice Awards in all-genre category “Favorite Album”.
However, let’s have a look at the other Sheltons, who are not so widely-known as their remarkable relative.
Blake’s dad Richard Lee Shelton, born in 1940, was a sales clerk of used cars in Oklahoma. Since 2011 Richard’s health started to rapidly decline and in 2012 country music singer’s father has died from the complications caused by lung cancer.
During his father’s disease, Blake tried to support him all the time. He even dedicated one of his awards in 2011 to his dad, who used to watch the award ceremonies on TV. After Richard has gone, his son cancelled several tour concerts to honor his passed parent.
Dorothy Shakleford is the mother of the starry guitarist. She was very caring and tried to support all her son’s wishes and aspirations. Dorothy even made him to participate in the pageants to demonstrate Blake’s singing talent. Future star hated those pageants and even wanted to give up music. Dorothy also imagined her son to be a vet or a zoologist as Blake was keen on animals as a child.
Endy Shelton, born in 1972 is Blake’s elder sister and his soul mate. Endy is a great devotee of her brother’s talent and Blake feels the same about his sister, who is a popular jewelry designer. Endy is married. Together with her spouse, she brings up two kids – a girl and a boy.
Richie Shelton is musician’s half-brother to Dorothy Shackleford and Ronnie Musgrove, born in 1966. Richie perished in a car crash at the age of 24. Blake was very tied to his elder brother. The awful incident and unexpected death of his brother brought him much emotional suffering.
In several years, Blake wrote a song together with his then wife, dedicated to Richie. The song, called “Over you”, was a great success and won the several awards in different nominations.
For a long time everybody considered Richie and Blake blood brothers, the truth about Richie’s real father was revealed shortly before the fatal accident. In fact, Dorothy divorced Richie’s father and married her second husband Shelton, when the boy was only 2 years old. She also changed kid’s last name. That’s why Ronnie Musgrove didn’t communicate with his son.
