Image Credit: Maro Hagopian
Tonight on SiriusXM’s The Highway, channel 59, Blake Shelton—who’s currently atop the Billboard 200 album chart with the highest debut of his career—will host a special called “Blake Shelton’s Top Ten Voices in Country Music” at 6 p.m. ET.
You’ll have to wait till then to hear his countdown, but Sirius, which snapped this pic of him signing the autograph wall at its studio, did give us a sneak peek of his picks in alphabetical order:
Carrie Underwood
Con Hunley
Conway Twitty
Earl Thomas Conley
George Jones
Martina McBride
Miranda Lambert
Reba McEntire
Ronnie Milsap
Travis Tritt
What will be interesting — besides how many people think of the George Jones song “Who’s Gonna Fill Their Shoes” when noting the lack of male contempories—is how he ranks them. Care to guess?
When I chatted with Shelton for an EW Pop Culture Personality Test in 2008, he said Earl Thomas Conley was the first celebrity he ever befriended and referred to him as “my favorite singer of all time.” So don’t be surprised if he takes the top spot over Shelton’s wife, Miranda Lambert (who I suspect will at least best Underwood), and his friend/Voice assistant coach Reba McEntire (who I imagine would take the ladies’ title over Martina).
The men are more difficult: Is George Jones too obvious? Probably… Since Shelton had a hit with a cover of Twitty’s “Goodbye Time” and name-checks him in his single “Honey Bee”—and because I was raised by a mother who put Conway’s picture on our wall of family photographs—I’m hoping he puts Twitty at No. 1.
If you miss the special tonight, it airs again Saturday, July 23 at 10 p.m. ET, Sunday, July 24 at 1 pm ET, and Wednesday, July 27 at 11 am ET.
More on EW.com:
Blake Shelton’s new album posts highest debut yet, tops Billboard 200 albums chart
Miranda Lambert on VH1′s ‘Behind the Music’: The star talks about her early romance with Blake Shelton — EXCLUSIVE PREVIEW VIDEO
‘Voice’ coaches on board for season 2
I’m glad to see he included Travis Tritt. I always thought he had one of the best male voices in country music.
Uh, yeah, clearly Miranda Lambert has the edge on Dolly Parton, Alison Krauss and Natalie Maines…
I’m assuming Patty Griffin, Emmylou Harris, Gillian Welch and Tift Merritt are too off the radar and/or the wrong kind of “country” for this list, but the other 3 are crimes of omission!
Nice to see that he doesn’t forget real singers, such as Earl Thomas Conley and Ronnie Milsap.
Ummm… no George Strait or Garth Brooks???
Strait only holds the world record for more #1 hit singles than any other artist in the history of music on any chart or in any genre, having recorded 57 #1 hit singles as of 2010.
And while Brooks might be a little too rock n’ roll for Blake’s tastes, most of the rest of the world recognizes him as a country artists — and he is the second best solo-album artist in the United States of all-time, behind only Elvis Presley.
And the lack of any contemporary male artists is odd. I think you could make a fair case for Kenny Chesney or Toby Keith… maybe even Brad Paisley.
The list isn’t about who sold the most albums. It’s about who has the best VOICE. Get it? Cause you know, he is on a show called The Voice? Making a top ten list like this to discuss and debate is all about personal choice and taste and not about the sales numbers!
I don’t think he’s into Garth Brooks or the gargantuan over the top arena concerts he put out in the ’90s. Blake’s list of singers is mostly late ’70s and early ’80s country. I think he chose the male singers that’s influenced him more as a singer and not someone as current like a Brad Paisley, Toby Keith or a Kenny Chesney. He’s more focused on the voice of these singers, much like the spring show he did on NBC.
Yet on his special on GAC he clearly claims it was Garth’s 1992 special on NBC that led him to be the stage performer he is today…
He is listing who he thinks has the best voice, not who is most popular or has sold the most records. therefore he chose Earl Thomas Conley who has the best voice ever in country music
Blake’s list needs more Josh Turner, Chris Young, Vince Gill, Alison Krauss, Dolly Parton, Patty Loveless, and Trisha Yearwood. I love Miranda and respect Reba but they don’t belong on the list of best voices considering who’s missing.
Well it’s his list so you can’t really complain. I am a little surprised George Strait and Keith Whitley aren’t on it, but glad to see Travis Tritt. Also, Waylon Jennings should be there. I personally don’t care for Miranda Lambert, her voice comes off as phony-twang, not real. I just don’t like her. But you know he had to put her or he’d be in the doghouse. I love Blake Shelton, he did a great cover of Home.
Miranda Lambert has one of the best counrty voices of all time hands down.
Miranda Lambert DOES NOT have the best country voice…And Blake knows that…SHE is NOT on top of the list…
Oh, and where’s Trisha Yearwood, I’d take her over Carrie, Martina and Miranda any day.
Carrie is the BEST!!!!
Patsy Cline. Enough Said.
I would say Carrie underwood has the best vocals, maybe ever, to come out of Nashville. Her peers agree with me. i.e. Randy Travis, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, Dolly Parton. Loretta and many more. I think Underwood has the best vocals in any genre. Martina comes in second.
Ty..I AGREE 100%…Carrie is the BEST!!!
AGREE 100% – The fact is Carrie Underwood has the best vocals in ALL of music, not just country. I do not think there has been a singer in music history that can sing country, rock, pop, standards, hair metal… like Carrie. She is a gift to the world.. and it is frustrating that her label and awards have for some reason snubbed her over the last 3 years.. .c’mon Miranda has not tied Carrie for 3 best vocal wins – that is not right ,that is just not true. Go Carrie,
Wow, lots of misses…Dolly Parton, Randy Owen (Alabama), Willie Nelson and Johnny Cass!
*Cash – sorry
He needs to put Miranda at #1, because she is the best. As for the person that is jealous and said she was a phony get a life.
NO…Blake knows who the BEST is..And she is on top of the list..He ALWAYS liked Carrie…I don’t care if he is married to Miranda…MIRANDA can NOT sing!!!!!
Miranda CAN too sing!!!
The fact is Carrie Underwood has the best vocals in ALL of music, not just country. I do not think there has been a singer in music history that can sing country, rock, pop, standards, hair metal… like Carrie. She is a gift to the world.. and it is frustrating that her label and awards have for some reason snubbed her over the last 3 years.. .c’mon Miranda has not tied Carrie for 3 best vocal wins – that is not right ,that is just not true. Go Carrie,
Wow people, it is his list. He can pick who ever he likes the best. So happy for his success on having the #1 album in country and all genres this week!! Also, Miranda has one of the best COUNRTY voices of all time.
I think Carrie Underwood is the best voice over everyone. She will always be the best there ever was, and Johnny Cash
Sam…You are soooo right!!!
Thank you Blake for mentioning Travis Tritt. Nashville has turn their back on him.Travis is too good compared to all the top charters. He’s constantly on tour. Check him out if you want to see a performer who can sing!!!
Travis doesn’t get the respect he deserves as an artist and I commend him for continuing to perform and not doing it for the record company suits of Nashville.