The Case For Blake Shelton’s KNUE Fandom

Blake Shelton recently returned to Nashville for the debut of his new exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame, Blake Shelton, Based on a True Story.

Blake took some lucky fans on a private tour of the new exhibit and shared stories about the Aria OW20 guitar he used on his first radio tour to promote "Austin." Alongside is its beat up hard shell guitar case, where we spotted something familiar.

The case is covered in lots of radio station bumper stickers, but along one side you can easily spot our KNUE sticker! Though Blake calls Ada, OK home, he is familiar with East Texas. He came through here on his first tour where picked up the good looking sticker on the side of the case, and during his relationship with Miranda Lambert he frequently returned to the area.

In the spring of 2009, he joined her for a benefit concert to support Tyler's Humane Society, now Pets Fur People, where I had a chance to meet him. I've met a few celebrities in my time as a radio personality, but he is absolutely the most charming.

I'm going to attempt to tell this story briefly and it starts with Miranda. In 2005, I began working on the air full time for an East Texas radio station. My first week on-air, I was given the opportunity to interview the Lindale native, who had recently completed her first album after her season on Nashville Star.

During the interview I got tongue-tied and called her Rimanda instead of Miranda. I was nervous. She and I are the same age, and I admired her. She was kind to me that day. She could have easily wanted to end the interview, but instead she began sharing stories with me of all the strange ways her name had been misread when she took the stage.

At the benefit concert I approached Miranda to say hello, thank her for her generosity and to congratulate her on her success. When I sheepishly asked if she remembered me, she brightened and said, "Of course, oh and Blake wants to meet you.

I cocked my head to the side, and asked if I had heard her correctly. She said, "Yes, he's right over there, go introduce yourself."

I did as she suggested, and was shocked to find that Blake Shelton was a Mandee Montana fan. He told me so himself. He said that he loved listening to my radio show, and looked it up every time he was in town.

It was even stranger, because Blake is 6'5". I'm stretching it to say I'm 5'2". I'm looking up at this guy who is a successful country music singer, who is telling me how excited he is to meet me, and what a big fan of mine he is, and I'm thinking, "This is nuts!"

I looked at him, and said this is happening backwards. I'm a big fan of yours! I should be telling you what a cool experience it is to meet you! He was kind enough to take a photo, give me a hug, and said he'd be listening.

Who else does this? I've not come across another celebrity who made me feel more special. I think this is part of what makes him so successful. Blake Shelton is not only talented, funny, charming, and handsome. He understands how to make other people feel special. It's a gift. Not everyone has that ability, but Blake has it in spades.