Blake Shelton has candidly reflected on his early experiences in beauty pageants, which he described as both “embarrassing” and “humiliating.” Before becoming a renowned country music star with 30 No. 1 hits and a long-running role on NBC’s The Voice, Shelton was just a young boy in Oklahoma seeking opportunities to perform.
In a recent appearance on Q with Tom Power, Shelton shared anecdotes about his childhood, recalling how his mother, Dorothy, tirelessly supported his passion by securing local performances for him. He began participating in beauty pageants at the tender age of seven, even competing in some of them. Shelton humorously noted that, despite his later success, he felt out of place in that environment, joking, “Can’t you tell by looking at me that I’m pageant material?”
Reflecting on his pageant performances, he talked about the unconventional choices of songs he would sing, like “Old Time Rock and Roll” and “Cat Scratch Fever.” Shelton admitted that neither he nor his mother understood the themes of these songs, believing them to be innocuous. His nostalgic recollection featured exaggerated numbers, claiming he participated in “50 of ‘em,” which he corrected to an actual count closer to six or seven.
These experiences, while uncomfortable, almost led Shelton to quit performing altogether. He recounted a moment when he expressed to his mother that he felt embarrassed and didn’t want his friends to know he was involved in pageants. After taking a break from singing, he returned to the stage around the age of 12 or 13, where he began to explore the country music he truly loved.
With the support of his mother, Shelton found new venues to perform, where he was finally able to sing artists like the Kentucky Head Hunters and Travis Tritt, which helped solidify his passion for a music career. These formative moments, awkward as they might have been, served as a crucial foundation for his future success in the music industry, illustrating how early challenges can pave the way to fulfillment.
Shelton’s story demonstrates the importance of following one’s passion and how the support of family can inspire a young artist to pursue their dreams, turning potentially embarrassing moments into stepping stones toward success.