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The initial five paragraphs of the narrative recount Blake Shelton‘s fifteenth year as a Grand Ole Opry member and the exceptional association between the entertainer and the music of the specific town. The Grand Ole Opry pays a flattering tribute to Shelton through their official social media account, where not only the highlight of the singer’s 15-year membership is presented but also the original video of his induction is made available. In the touching video, the membership is given to Blake by the fellow country singer Trace Adkins, who says “the world to me to be the one handing you this tonight.” Meanwhile, with the same time, of course, Shelton’s voice is saying; “To me, I get the same feeling when I walk into the Grand Ole Opry as I do when I meet one of my heroes.” Shelton thinks out loud and explains, ‘The only way I know to describe what this is to me – the Grand Ole Opry is an artist to me. And I am very proud to be one of its songs.’
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The post also mentioned the Opry’s own centenary and the great significance of Shelton’s milestone in country music history. The post also acknowledged his 30 number one hits, the number of Ole Red bars opened, and the number of memories made at the most famous country music venue during the singer’s residency. The Opry’s 100th anniversary coincides with the celebration of Shelton’s 15-year anniversary, which is a very significant period in the context of country music history.
The comment section was flooded with fans’ congratulations, personal reflections about Shelton’s career and one of the fans said the following, which was a reflection of many, “What a beautiful gentleman with song, integrity, class, spirituality, fan appreciation is darling Mr. Blake Shelton.” The comment shows the deep love that the fans have for the singer not only for his music but also for his personality.
One fan, not wanting to wait any longer for the new single, specifically commented, “Dear Blake Shelton and Gwen Shelton please, please, please release ‘Hangin’ On’. We need it. Music video now.” The comment indicates that Shelton’s fan base is very much alive and engaged with his current music even though the spotlight is on his past accomplishments.
The anniversary post also made fans reminisce about the past, one of the commenters said, “You were so young!! Congratulations on your 15th anniversary of being inducted into the Grand Ole Opry!” Another person simply said, “wow 2010 went so fast Blake, ‘congrats’” – both comments express how quickly time has flown since Shelton’s original induction but also that he still is a major presence in the country music scene.
The international fans were not the ones to miss the opportunity to congratulate the singer, one of them said, “Magnifique, bonjour de Bruxelles” while another one added, “Felicidades al rey del country,” which means congratulations to the king of country. Such comments reveal the global popularity of Shelton as well as the open recognition of his contributions to the genre.
Not even the official Ole Red account, Shelton’s own brand of entertainment establishments, let slip the opportunity to congratulate the star with a simple “Happy anniversary, Boss Man!” – which shows how much intertwined have Shelton’s various businesses become with the country music scene.
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At the same time as Blake Shelton is celebrating this important milestone, the fan support that has come from the public, fellow artists, and the institution, all these factors point to his continuous influence on the country music scene. He represents the Opry as “an artist” which he reveres “one of its songs” thus, he very well defines the mutual relationship between the singer and the stage that has characterized country music for ages. A decade and a half after that moving induction night, Blake Shelton remains not only a member of the Grand Ole Opry but also a crucial part of its ever-changing story. Keith Urban and Blake Shelton have previously collaborated on various projects. Additionally, Thomas Rhett has also worked with Shelton on music videos.