When you think of Michael Bublé, the image that likely comes to mind is a suave crooner in a tailored suit, serenading audiences with jazz-infused ballads and timeless standards. The Canadian singer has built a career on his silky voice and classic style, earning him a global fanbase and multiple Grammy Awards. But what many fans might not know is that Bublé has a surprising connection to the world of country music—one that involves a chart-topping hit for none other than country superstar Blake Shelton. The song in question? “Home,” a heartfelt ballad that became a defining moment in Shelton’s career, and a secret country triumph for Bublé, who co-wrote the track.

The Origins of “Home”: A Song Born from Longing

“Home” was first released by Michael Bublé in 2005 as part of his album It’s Time. Bublé co-wrote the song with Alan Chang and Amy Foster-Gillies, drawing inspiration from his own experiences of longing while touring in Italy. At the time, Bublé was away from his then-fiancée, Debbie Timuss, and the distance weighed heavily on him. The lyrics reflect a deep yearning to return to the comfort of loved ones, with lines like, “Another summer day has come and gone away / In Paris and Rome, but I wanna go home.” The song struck a chord with listeners, topping the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart in the United States and earning platinum certification in both the U.S. and Canada.

What made “Home” so universal was its emotional authenticity. As Amy Foster-Gillies shared in an interview with The Boot, the song was initially at risk of sounding like a complaint about being “stuck” in Europe—a sentiment that could have come off as ungrateful. But Foster-Gillies worked to balance the lyrics, focusing on the universal feeling of missing home while acknowledging the privilege of travel. “I really wrote the lyrics about just the difficulties of being away from home,” she explained, ensuring the song resonated with a broad audience, regardless of their circumstances.

Blake Shelton’s Country Transformation

Fast forward to 2008, and “Home” found a new life in the hands of Blake Shelton, a rising star in the country music scene. Shelton, known for hits like “Austin” and “Some Beach,” stumbled upon the song in a serendipitous moment. As he recounted in an interview with Reuters, he discovered “Home” on his iPod—thanks to his then-girlfriend Miranda Lambert, who often curated his playlists. “When I heard it, I was like, ‘What is this? I didn’t give her this one,’” Shelton recalled. Intrigued, he looked up the artist, listened again, and fell in love with the song. He began performing it live, and the audience response was overwhelming.

Shelton decided to record a cover of “Home” for a reissue of his 2007 album Pure BS, which was released as a deluxe edition in 2008. His version, featuring background vocals from Lambert, leaned into a country arrangement that emphasized his rustic timbre. The result was a resounding success: Shelton’s “Home” soared to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in July 2008, marking his fourth chart-topping hit and his first No. 1 in four years since “Some Beach” in 2004. The song also reached No. 41 on the Billboard Hot 100, showcasing its crossover appeal.

What’s remarkable about Shelton’s cover is how naturally it fit into the country genre. As Shelton noted in the Reuters interview, he felt the song was “more country than pop” from the first time he heard it. The themes of longing for home and family resonated deeply with country music’s storytelling tradition, making it a perfect fit for Shelton’s audience. Bublé’s original version may have been a jazz-pop ballad, but Shelton’s interpretation proved the song’s versatility, bridging two seemingly disparate musical worlds.

A Shared Stage: Bublé and Shelton’s Magical Duets

The connection between Bublé and Shelton didn’t end with the latter’s cover. The two artists, united by their shared hit, went on to perform “Home” together on several occasions, delighting fans with their chemistry. One of the most memorable performances took place in 2008 at the “David Foster and Friends” concert at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas. During the show, Bublé playfully attempted a country twang while singing “Home,” only to be interrupted by producer David Foster, who teased that someone else in the audience could sing it better. Shelton then joined Bublé on stage, and the duo delivered a stunning duet that blended Bublé’s smooth vocals with Shelton’s country grit. The performance, which has since garnered over 40 million views online, remains a fan favorite, with many praising the seamless blend of their voices.

The collaboration didn’t stop there. In 2012, Shelton reached out to Bublé with an idea: a Christmas version of “Home” with rewritten lyrics. Bublé agreed, and the duo recorded a festive rendition for Shelton’s holiday album Cheers, It’s Christmas. They performed the song on Bublé’s 2012 TV special Michael Bublé: Home for the Holidays, dedicating it to soldiers who couldn’t be with their families during the season. The performance was a heartfelt tribute, highlighting the song’s emotional depth and its ability to connect with listeners on a profound level.

Shelton and Bublé’s onstage camaraderie was undeniable. In posts found on X, fans have described their duet as “mesmerizing” and “one of the best they’ve ever heard,” noting how Bublé’s jazzy style complemented Shelton’s country flair. The two artists’ genuine friendship shone through in their performances, with playful banter and mutual respect adding to the magic.

The Song’s Broader Impact

“Home” didn’t just mark a milestone for Bublé and Shelton—it also became a cultural touchstone. The song’s universal theme of longing for home resonated with a wide audience, leading to additional covers by other artists. In 2007, the Irish boyband Westlife released their own version, which peaked at No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart and sold over 200,000 copies. The song’s adaptability across genres—from jazz-pop to country to boyband pop—speaks to its timeless quality and the strength of Bublé’s songwriting.

Beyond its commercial success, “Home” has taken on deeper meaning in certain contexts. Shelton and Bublé’s 2012 Christmas duet, for instance, was framed as a tribute to soldiers, emphasizing the song’s relevance for those separated from loved ones due to duty. This sentiment was echoed in a Country Thang Daily article, which noted that the duet aimed to honor “the brave troops who risk their lives for the country even if it means they won’t be able to spend Christmas with their families.”

A Critical Perspective: The Unseen Struggles Behind the Hit

While “Home” is often celebrated as a triumph for both Bublé and Shelton, it’s worth considering the broader implications of its success. For Bublé, writing “Home” was a deeply personal endeavor, but its transformation into a country hit highlights the often-overlooked role of songwriters in the music industry. Bublé’s name is rarely mentioned in discussions of Shelton’s version, despite his foundational contribution as a co-writer. This raises questions about how credit is distributed in the music world, particularly when a song crosses genres and gains new life through a cover.

Additionally, the narrative of “Home” as a feel-good success story can overshadow the real challenges of being a touring musician. Both Bublé and Shelton have spoken about the toll of being on the road—Bublé wrote the song out of homesickness, and Shelton has echoed similar sentiments about missing his Oklahoma roots. Yet, the music industry often glamorizes the touring lifestyle, ignoring the emotional and physical strain it places on artists. “Home” may be a celebration of returning to loved ones, but it also serves as a reminder of the sacrifices artists make to pursue their careers.

A Lasting Legacy

As of April 2025, “Home” remains a beloved song for fans of both Michael Bublé and Blake Shelton. For Bublé, it’s a testament to his songwriting prowess and his ability to create music that transcends genres. For Shelton, it marked a pivotal moment in his career, solidifying his status as a country music heavyweight. The song’s journey—from a jazz-pop ballad to a country chart-topper to a Christmas duet—illustrates the power of music to connect people across different worlds.

The collaboration between Bublé and Shelton also underscores the beauty of cross-genre partnerships. Their performances of “Home” brought together jazz and country in a way that felt effortless, proving that great music knows no boundaries. As one fan commented in a post on X, Bublé and Shelton’s duet is a reminder of “how well their voices blend together,” a sentiment that continues to resonate nearly two decades after the song’s debut.

In the end, “Home” is more than just a secret country hit—it’s a story of creativity, connection, and the universal longing for home. Michael Bublé may be best known as a jazz crooner, but through Blake Shelton’s smash hit, he’s left an indelible mark on country music, one heartfelt note at a time.