Carol Cash Large - Blake Shelton: Happy Anywhere

C arol thanks

Blake Shelton, what a wonderful journey with youmore family than friend * Larry, the social butterfly in our family * Debi, my first daughter and the perfect proofreader for those early drafts * Patti, my last daughter and the one who helped me remember the humor in some of my stories * Shelley Henry, my bonus daughter who is always supportive * Linda McGaha, Anna Cash, Monica Walton, and Mandy Davison who were a part of this endeavor * Connie Schultz, who was Blakes #1 fan and knew more about his professional life than the professionals, Amy Jacobs, Fran Carpenter, Evelyn Martin, Kelli Sampsel, Mike and Angie Stafford * Friends and family who have supported me both through fan club and writing this book, especially Gayle and Megan Sheehan, Farrell and Sue Large, and Gil and Barbara Raglandcouldnt have done it without all of you * Photographers: Anna Orf, Savannah Lutrell, Joe Ownbey, Sherry Urton, Pat Johnson, and Diana Mason Ross * Wes Vause, who aided Blake in proofreading my finished manuscript * Narvel Blackstock, Brandon Blackstock, Dana Kelley Lobb, Berkley Myers, Alissa Endres, and the amazing Kevin Canady for all they did or do to keep us in the loop * Bob Burke for his encouragement * Marilyn Allen, who led me by the hand through this entire process * John Cerullo, for seeing the potential in my book, and the team at Backbeat Books: Chris Chap-pell, Laurel Myers, Carol Flannery, Barb Claire, Jessica Thwaite, Judith Schnell, Jessica Kastner, James Barnett, and Nancy Bryan * Dorothy Shackleford, Dick Shelton, Endy Intrieri, and the entire Shelton/Byrd families for always supporting Blake * And music, for making everything possible.

1976. Six months and eighteen days into the year brought a typically hot, humid, and rainy summertime day in Oklahoma. All across America, everyone was in the midst of planning for the big bicentennial celebrations that were soon to come. Red, white, and blue semicircular buntings were hung from balcony railings and flags were flying in front of almost everyones home. BBQ party invitations had been mailed and kids were gearing up for a big day. A fireworks stand could be found on almost every corner along with their sparklers, roman candles, and black cats ready to light the night. A huge event was being organized for Wintersmith Park in Ada. Excitement was in the air that day, but it all came to a screeching halt for one family when Blake Tollison Shelton decided to make his debut. Parents Dick and Dorothy Shelton and older brother and sister Richie and Endy, along with a passel of extended family members, welcomed the cute little boy with the big dimples and loud voice into their lives with no reason to believe that his would one day become a recognizable name across the nation.

His middle name, Tollison, came from his paternal grandfather, who didnt care for it as a middle name for himself or his grandson, and he later told him just that. His grandpa died when Blake was only nine years old, but he still has his name and the little memory of how he got it from the namesake himself. In a small stroke of genius, Blake would later do something that would guarantee I could never forget his birthday. He added the line its been six months and 18 days into one of his songs.

What I know about Blakes early years comes from memories relayed to me by family and friends. It is obvious from the stories that he hasnt changed a great deal. Even as a baby, Blake often went with his mom to work and quickly learned how to charm women of all ages. How could he miss with those dimples? I have several acquaintances who remember baby Blake hanging out at Beauty Unlimited. They reminisce about playing with him, even helping out by changing his diaper from time to time, and all agree that he was a pleasant child. The shop had a festive atmosphere and one could probably hear Dorothys hearty infectious one-syllable belly laugh, Ha! before walking through the door of her popular beauty shop. It was a great place to visit and there were always several women around. One might be getting her hair styled for a Farrah Fawcett or Dolly Parton look, while others chose to emulate Americas Sweetheart, Dorothy Hamill, the Olympian figure skater who popularized a short and sassy look that took the country by storm. Others might be under the dryer, waiting a turn, or maybe just hanging out to play with Blake. Known around town as an Ann-Margret look-alike, Dorothy was not only beautiful but fun-loving, creative, and talented as well. Blake undoubtedly picked up those unique qualities from his mom.

Blakes dad Richard Shelton, known to everyone as Dick, was blessed with a colorful vocabulary, good looks, and a friendly demeanor, all combining to make him the perfect salesman. Tall and thin, with plenty of hair which would soon turn totally gray, he was an honest man and almost everyone in Ada has a car story about him, either from buying one or from watching him race his own car. He simply loved cars! If Blake got his gregarious nature and creative talent from his mother, he definitely got his knack for telling a good story and classic good looks from his dad.

The Shelton family lived in Latta, southwest of Ada, and Blake dearly loved the space offered by being a little bit country and thus able to explore the great outdoors. He was drawn to fishing and later to hunting. He talks about those days with affection, how he explored every square inch of the property. He would wander around until his mother called him to the house from the front porch. The earliest pictures of Blake show him pretending to play a guitar, fishing, racing, and boating, all things he still loves today.

Dorothy says he never met a stranger. Everywhere he went, he struck up a conversation with anyone close, young or old. He made friends everywhere he went.

One of my favorite stories his mom shares is when he was four years old and the family was next door at a cookout. After they had grilled and were ready to sit down to eat, not surprisingly, Blake was happily playing with a frog. When she handed him a hamburger, he proceeded to put the frog in his mouth so he could switch hands to eat the burger. I can imagine he would still do that today if he wanted to make someone laugh or just shock them. It would not faze him to stick a frog in his mouth for a good laugh.

His mom also recalled a time when he was only five and participated in a peewee motorcycle race. Blake was wheeling around the course at a pretty good clip when he spotted a turtle slowly rambling across the track. He immediately stopped, got off his little motorcycle, moved the defenseless turtle to the side of the track, and got back on his cycle to finish the racedead last. While he didnt win a trophy that day, he most assuredly won hearts!

When Dorothy began taking Blakes older sister Endy, a cute little curly-haired blonde, to beauty pageants, she dragged him along. She had heard him singing in his bedroom, recognized some early skills, and entered him in a talent show when he was very young. The only little boy there, he was embarrassed and hesitated to do any more pageants. While Endy loved parading across the stage, making her turns and flashing a smile (all skills that would serve her well later as one of Ada High Schools Couganns, a pep/drill team), Blake felt a little uncomfortable with that. He liked the singing part but the modeling, not quite so much. It was his first experience singing in front of an audience and it took a few years to get him to try it again.

I first met Blake when he was about eleven or twelve years old, a typical Oklahoma boy with a mop of hair on top of his head but cut above his ears and neatly trimmed in back. He still had chubby cheeks that any grandma or aunt would be happy to pinch and the same deep dimples when he smiled that he has today.