Blake Shelton, the gravel-voiced country music icon and former The Voice coach, has long been known for his rugged charm and cowboy swagger, but a recent appearance on The Kelly Clarkson Show has peeled back the layers to reveal a surprising secret from his youth. On May 16, 2025, Clarkson gleefully showcased a throwback photo of a young Shelton, dubbed “little Blake in leather,” decked out in a Michael Jackson-inspired jacket and belting tunes on a pageant stage. The image, which has since gone viral, has fans buzzing, with many dubbing the pint-sized performer a “little rock star.” As of 2:45 PM +07 on Thursday, July 10, 2025, this delightful blast from the past has reignited interest in Shelton’s early days, offering a glimpse into the humble beginnings that shaped his journey to stardom.

The revelation came during a lively segment on Clarkson’s daytime talk show, where the two The Voice alums traded banter and shared stories. Clarkson, never one to miss a chance to tease her friend, pulled out the vintage snapshot, capturing Shelton at around seven or eight years old. The photo shows him with short, reddish hair, gripping a microphone, and sporting a black leather jacket emblazoned with the word “Turbo”—a clear nod to Michael Jackson’s Thriller-era style. The setting? A beauty pageant stage in his hometown of Ada, Oklahoma, where Shelton’s mother, Dorothy, entered him to showcase his singing talent. Clarkson couldn’t contain her laughter, quipping about his “pageant queen” days, while Shelton sheepishly admitted the getup was the closest his mom could find to emulate the King of Pop’s iconic look.

Shelton’s pageant past isn’t entirely new, but the photo’s re-emergence has amplified the story. He first opened up about these experiences in a 2001 Access Hollywood interview, recalling the humiliation of competing alongside “30 or 40 little girls” in evening wear and talent portions. His mother’s strategy was simple: leverage local pageants to give her son a platform to sing, hoping to kickstart his musical career. Shelton’s talents included renditions of Bob Seger’s “Old Time Rock & Roll” and Ted Nugent’s “Cat Scratch Fever,” the latter of which he admitted didn’t sit well with the “soccer moms” in the audience due to its risqué lyrics. The leather jacket, a DIY tribute to Jackson, added a rockstar flair that has fans marveling at his early stage presence, with social media posts like “Little Blake was born to perform!” and “That jacket is pure 80s gold!” flooding platforms.

Clarkson, who has a knack for unearthing Shelton’s embarrassing moments, seized the opportunity to grill him further. She jokingly asked if his evening wear helped him win, prompting Shelton to retort, “Do you just wanna see the pictures?” The segment, available from the 13:11 mark of the May 16 episode, showcased additional images, including one of him in a maroon tuxedo, complete with a dramatic side part and a dimpled smile. Fans couldn’t get enough, with The Kelly Clarkson Show’s Instagram post of the clip racking up comments like “We’d like two 8×10 prints and wallet-size please!” and “Kelly is savage lol.” The playful rivalry between the two, honed over years on The Voice, turned the moment into a highlight, blending nostalgia with humor.

Shelton’s pageant days were short-lived, a fact he’s emphasized in past appearances, including on Live with Kelly and Ryan. He told the hosts he nearly quit singing altogether, saying, “I hated it so much that I almost didn’t want to be a singer anymore.” The teasing from schoolmates after pageant stints led to fights, underscoring the discomfort of a young boy thrust into a world dominated by young girls. Yet, these early performances planted seeds for his career. His breakdancing stint, sparked by a single lesson from a teacher claiming to have trained Michael Jackson, earned him the nickname “Break It Down Blake,” a detail Clarkson gleefully resurrected. Shelton quipped, “I just needed somebody to show me the way, Kelly, and I take it from there,” adding a layer of self-deprecating charm to the narrative.

The throwback ties into Shelton’s broader evolution. From those Oklahoma pageants, he signed with Giant Records in 2001, releasing his debut single “Austin,” which topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for five weeks. His journey through 12 studio albums, including the recent For Recreational Use Only (2025), and 23 Voice seasons—where he won eight times—reflects a resilience forged in those early, awkward stages. The leather jacket photo, a symbol of his mom’s creative parenting, contrasts with his current image as a cowboy-hat-wearing country star married to Gwen Stefani since 2021. Stefani, who met Shelton on The Voice, has teased his long hair and mullet phases, but this pageant revelation adds a new dimension to his origin story.

Fan reactions have been a mix of amusement and awe. On X, users have shared the photo widely, with comments like “Blake Shelton as a kid in that leather jacket is the cutest thing ever!” and “Who knew our country king was a pageant rockstar?” The image’s virality has prompted calls for more throwbacks, with some speculating if other childhood photos might surface. Shelton’s discomfort with the exposure—evident in his playful jabs at Clarkson—only fuels the fun, reinforcing his “nice-guy” persona that fans adore. The timing, amid his May 2025 Kelly Clarkson Show visit to promote For Recreational Use Only, amplifies the moment’s reach, blending past and present seamlessly.

Culturally, this throwback resonates with 2025’s nostalgia wave, where 80s and 90s pop culture references thrive. The Michael Jackson connection, tied to a dance teacher’s dubious claim, mirrors a broader fascination with the era’s icons, from Thriller to breakdancing’s peak. Shelton’s story also challenges the typical country music narrative, blending rock influences with his Oklahoma roots—a fusion evident in his pageant song choices. Clarkson’s role as the mischievous revealer adds a layer of camaraderie, echoing their Voice dynamic where she’s won three times to his seven, keeping their rivalry alive off-screen.

For fans eager to see the photo, it’s accessible via The Kelly Clarkson Show’s archives or social media recaps of the May 16 episode, though no official release exists beyond the broadcast. Viewing tips suggest catching the full segment for context, where Shelton’s reactions enhance the humor. Alternatives like his 2001 Access Hollywood interview offer more pageant tales, but the leather jacket image remains the standout. As Shelton prepares for The Voice Season 27 finale on May 12-13, 2025—where he’ll perform “Texas”—this throwback ensures his past stages continue to steal the spotlight, proving even a reluctant pageant kid can become a country legend.