Blake Shelton, the beloved coach of “The Voice” and a country music icon, had his life forever changed at the age of 14 when he experienced the devastating loss of his older brother, Richie Shelton. Richie tragically passed away in a car accident in Oklahoma on November 13, 1990. Since then, Blake has found ways to cope with his grief and honor his brother’s memory.
Through interviews, social media posts, TV appearances, and his music, including his hit song “God’s Country,” Blake has been open and honest about his relationship with Richie. He has shared that the only other difficult experience that comes close to matching the pain of losing his brother is his divorce from his first ex-wife, Kaynette Gern. In a 2014 interview with CBS’ “60 Minutes,” he expressed, “I put my divorce up there with my brother’s death, and that was a tough, tough call to make.”
In addition to his own reflections, Blake holds dear the advice his father gave him after Richie’s passing. His father told him, “Look, you will never, ever get over this happening.” He stressed the importance of learning to adapt to the loss. Blake has not only adapted but has also shown that despite the constant pain, one should never take life for granted. He has become an inspiration to countless people.
Richie’s death has given Blake a new perspective on life. It has allowed him to connect with others who have also experienced the loss of a loved one. On the 27th anniversary of Richie’s passing, on November 17, 2017, Blake tweeted about how the tragic event “changed [his] life forever” and taught him to cherish every moment. He emphasized the significance of seizing the present, stating, “life is precious, and there’s no time like RIGHT NOW to go for it.”
During Season 23 of “The Voice” on May 1, 2023, Blake formed a special bond with NOIVAS (Savion Wright), a contestant who had also lost a brother. In a heartfelt moment during practice, Blake shared, “My brother, he would have freaked out if he had known what I went on to do.” He continued, “You’d hear him coming six blocks away, the stereo blaring out of his truck.” It became evident that Richie had a deep love for music, just like Blake.
In 2011, Blake Shelton and his then-wife, Miranda Lambert, wrote a song called “Over You” as a tribute to Richie. Miranda came up with the idea for the song after Blake opened up to her about his traumatic experience, hoping it would help him heal. Before “Over You,” Blake had never attempted to express his grief through music. The poignant lyrics sung by Miranda include, “But you went away / How dare you, I miss you / They say I’ll be OK / But I’m not going to ever get over you.” Although Blake doesn’t sing on the recorded version, he has performed the song live on several occasions.
In a 2012 interview with People, Miranda shared some of the stories behind the lyrics. She revealed that Christmas became particularly difficult for Blake due to the memories associated with it. She recalled, “The presents and the time together, and then it all just going black in your mind.” The Grammy winner also mentioned that Blake’s father gave him Richie’s old tapes, and while they were writing the song, Blake joked, “Richie would’ve been so pissed I got all those records!”
Losing a loved one leaves an indelible mark on the hearts of those left behind. Blake Shelton’s openness about his brother’s passing has not only helped him navigate his grief but has also touched the lives of others who have experienced similar losses. Through his music and personal reflections, Blake continues to keep Richie’s memory alive and reminds us all to cherish the precious moments we have with our loved ones.
