Blake Shelton is one of the most popular and successful country music singers in the world. He has won numerous awards, sold millions of albums, and starred as a coach on the hit show The Voice. But is he related to another famous country singer, Ricky Van Shelton?
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The Confusion Between the Two Sheltons
Some fans might assume that Blake and Ricky are related because they share the same last name and both sing country music. However, this is not the case. According to Geni.com, a genealogy website, “Ricky Van Shelton is of no known relation to fellow country singer Blake Shelton. ‘Van’ is Ricky’s middle name, not part of his last name.”
Who is Ricky Van Shelton?
Ricky Van Shelton is a retired country music singer who was active between 1986 and 2006. He charted more than 20 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including 10 Number One hits such as “Somebody Lied”, “Life Turned Her That Way”, “I’ll Leave This World Loving You”, and “Rockin’ Years” (a duet with Dolly Parton). He also released nine studio albums, of which his first four were certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Ricky was born in Danville, Virginia, in 1952, but was raised in Grit, Virginia. He started singing gospel music with his father when he was a child, but later discovered country music as a teenager. He moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1984 with his girlfriend and later wife Bettye Witt, and signed a recording contract with Columbia Records in 1986.
Who is Blake Shelton?
Blake Shelton is a country music singer who has been active since 2001. He has charted more than 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs charts, including 28 Number One hits such as “Austin”, “God Gave Me You”, “Honey Bee”, and “God’s Country”. He has also released 12 studio albums, of which six were certified platinum or higher by the Recording Industry Association of America.
Blake was born in Ada, Oklahoma, in 1976. He started singing at an early age and learned to play guitar by the time he was 12. He moved to Nashville when he was 17 and signed a recording contract with Giant Records in 1998. He later switched to Warner Bros. Records in 2001.
Blake is also known for his television appearances as a coach on The Voice since 2011, and as a judge on Nashville Star and Clash of the Choirs. He has been married twice, first to fellow country singer Miranda Lambert from 2011 to 2015, and then to pop star Gwen Stefani since 2020.
The Conclusion
Blake Shelton and Ricky Van Shelton are not related by blood or by marriage. They are both talented country singers who happen to have the same last name. However, they have different backgrounds, styles, and careers. They have never collaborated or performed together, but they have both expressed admiration for each other’s work.
So next time you hear someone ask if Blake Shelton is related to Ricky Van Shelton, you can confidently say no and explain why.
