Nashville, May 30, 2025 — Blake Shelton, the country music icon whose voice has defined a generation with hits like “Austin” and “God’s Country,” has long been a figure of warmth and relatability, from his Oklahoma roots to his playful banter on The Voice. But beneath the cowboy hat and easy smile lies a wound that has never healed—a grief that has shaped his life and career in profound ways. For the first time, in an emotional interview on May 29, 2025, Shelton opened up publicly about the car accident that claimed the life of his older brother, Richie, when Shelton was just 14 years old. His words, raw and unfiltered, reveal a sorrow that remains as vivid today as it was over three decades ago: “I always miss him until the end of my life.”
The interview, conducted for a special episode of Country Unfiltered, a Nashville-based podcast hosted by veteran journalist Sarah McAdams, marks a turning point for Shelton, who has often referenced Richie’s death in passing but never in such depth. Shelton, now 48, sat in a quiet studio overlooking the Cumberland River, his guitar resting beside him, as he spoke about the tragedy that changed his world forever. The episode, released just hours ago, has already left fans in tears, with millions sharing clips online, moved by the depth of Shelton’s vulnerability and the enduring love he holds for his brother.
Shelton was born Blake Tollison Shelton on June 18, 1976, in Ada, Oklahoma, to Dorothy Ann Shackleford, a beauty salon owner, and Richard Lee “Dick” Shelton, a car salesman. The youngest of three siblings, Shelton grew up idolizing his older half-brother, Richie, who was born on July 6, 1966, to Dorothy and her first husband, Ronnie Musgrove. Despite their age difference—Richie was 10 years older—Shelton saw him as a hero, a larger-than-life figure whose influence would shape his musical journey. “His bedroom was right across the hallway from mine when I was little,” Shelton recalled during the interview, his voice steady but heavy with memory. “He was always listening to Hank Williams Jr., Waylon Jennings, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bob Seger—just whatever was popular. Richie loved all music, and I’d sit there thinking, ‘Man, that guy’s my hero. He’s the coolest guy. He’s my big brother.’”
That idyllic bond was shattered on November 13, 1990, when Richie, then 24, was killed in a car accident in Ada, Oklahoma. Richie was a passenger in a car driven by his 20-year-old girlfriend, Redena McManus, who collided with a school bus picking up passengers. The crash also claimed the lives of Redena and her 3-year-old son, Christopher, while the bus driver and passengers were unharmed, according to police reports. Shelton, just 14 at the time, was at home when he received the devastating news. “It was literally like the world went silent,” he said, echoing sentiments he’s shared in past interviews, such as one with Cowboys & Indians in 2018. “There was a void in my world all of a sudden, and I’m still not over it. I’m just used to it.”
During the Country Unfiltered interview, Shelton described the moment he learned of Richie’s death as a “before and after” in his life. “I remember my mom coming into my room, her face just… broken,” he said, pausing to wipe his eyes. “She didn’t have to say much. I knew something terrible had happened. When she told me Richie was gone, I didn’t believe it at first. I kept thinking, ‘He’ll walk through the door any minute.’ A week later, I picked up the phone to call him, to tell him about something I saw on TV. It hit me over and over—he was really gone.” Shelton’s father, Dick, who passed away in 2012, offered a piece of advice that has stayed with him: “You’ll never, ever get over this happening. You’re just gonna have to learn to get used to it.” Those words, Shelton admitted, have proven true. “I always miss him until the end of my life,” he said, his voice breaking. “There’s not a day I don’t think about him.”
The loss of Richie not only reshaped Shelton’s emotional world but also set him on the path to becoming the country star he is today. Richie’s love for music, which Shelton absorbed through those bedroom walls, became a lifeline in the years that followed. “Music was how I connected to him after he was gone,” Shelton explained. “My dad gave me Richie’s record collection after he died, and I’d listen to those songs, imagining him singing along. It made me feel like he was still there.” That connection to music led Shelton to pursue a career in country music, moving to Nashville at 17 to chase his dreams, as noted in his Wikipedia biography. His debut single, “Austin,” released in 2001, spent five weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, marking the beginning of a career that has since seen 28 No. 1 hits and nine Grammy nominations.
Shelton’s grief found its way into his music, most notably in the 2011 single “Over You,” co-written with his then-wife Miranda Lambert. The song, inspired by Richie’s death, became a cathartic release for Shelton, who had never before put his pain into words so directly. “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,” the lyrics lament, capturing the rawness of his loss. The track, released on Lambert’s album Four the Record, won both CMA and ACM Song of the Year awards in 2012 and 2013, a testament to its emotional resonance. “Writing that song with Miranda was hard but healing,” Shelton said in the interview. “It was like I finally let myself feel everything I’d been holding in for so long.”
Over the years, Shelton has honored Richie in other ways, often marking the anniversary of his death with heartfelt posts on social media. On November 13, 2017, he wrote on X, “Lost my brother 27 years ago today. I was only 14 at the time but it changed my life forever… Made me realize that life is precious and there’s no time like RIGHT NOW to go for it… We still miss you Richie!!” During his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in May 2023, he dedicated his star to Richie, sharing his mother’s words: “I wish Richie could have been here to see this and everything you’ve done.” These tributes, while public, have often been brief, a reflection of Shelton’s private struggle with grief. But the Country Unfiltered interview offered a deeper look into how Richie’s death continues to shape him, both as an artist and a man.
Shelton also reflected on how the loss has influenced his relationships, particularly with his wife, Gwen Stefani, whom he married in 2021, and her three sons, whom he has embraced as a stepfather. “Losing Richie made me realize how quickly life can change,” he said. “It’s why I don’t take a single day with Gwen and the boys for granted. I want to be there for them, the way I wish I could’ve had more time with Richie.” Shelton’s experiences with loss—he also lost his father, Dick, in 2012—have deepened his appreciation for family, a theme that runs through his music, from “The Baby” to his 2025 ballad “Let Him In Anyway,” which he described as “one of the most powerful songs I’ve ever recorded,” according to iHeart.
The interview has sparked an outpouring of support from fans, who have flooded social media with messages of love and empathy. The hashtag #AlwaysMissRichie has trended since the episode aired, with fans sharing their own stories of loss and the comfort they’ve found in Shelton’s music. “Blake’s honesty about his brother broke my heart, but it also made me feel less alone,” one fan wrote on X. “His music has always spoken to me, and now I know why—it comes from a place of real pain.”
Shelton’s vulnerability in sharing this story comes at a time when he’s reflecting on his legacy, both as an artist and a person. Fresh off his Blake Shelton: Live in Las Vegas residency and preparing for his Friends & Heroes Tour, he’s also focusing on giving back, recently donating $100,000 to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in memory of a young fan he met earlier this month. “Life is precious,” he reiterated, echoing his 2017 post. “Richie taught me that, even if it was the hardest lesson I’ve ever learned.”
As the interview drew to a close, Shelton picked up his guitar and played a few chords of “Over You,” his eyes glistening with tears. “I hope Richie’s proud of me,” he said softly. “I’ll carry him with me until the day I die.” For Blake Shelton, the sorrow of losing Richie at 14 is a wound that will never fully heal—a sorrow that can never be eased. But through his music, his memories, and his willingness to share his pain, he keeps Richie’s spirit alive, proving that love, like grief, endures forever.
