Blake Shelton and Ray Price
DURANT, Okla. — Blake Shelton and his wife Miranda Lambert were among the thousands who attended the Ray Price concert on Thursday at Choctaw Casino. But Shelton was there for a duel purpose, to hear the music and to make amends. He sat inside his pickup behind the concert area for a while as Price’s and Mel Tillis’ bands were being set up. Then, he and Lambert both entered through the backstage door and he spoke with the octogenarian at length.
Backstage, before the concert, Blake made a complete and apparently sincere apology to Price for the controversial and seemingly derogatory statements Shelton had made last week regarding “grandpa’s country music” that did not set well with Price, nor with multitudes of country music lovers. Price spoke out on his Facebook page about his disappointment.
That said, the two superstars shook hands, both backstage and again on stage. Price also got a kiss on his cheek from Lambert. Then the Nashville power couple swayed to the rhythms as they watched the rest of the show through the backstage curtains.
Facebook has since placed some temporary use sanctions on Price.
Friday, Price wrote on his Facebook page the following: “Hi Folks, I had no idea how far this would go when I made my comment about BLAKE SHELTON’S statement regarding CLASSIC COUNTRY MUSIC and that it had no place in the evolution of Country Music. It has made it’s way to the site of the 2013 GRAMMY AWARDS TV SHOW… I HAVE ACCEPTED BLAKE SHELTON’S APOLOGY TO ME PERSONALLY. I think Blake is a fine young man with a big future in Country Music. I AGREE that he should be given a chance to restore his credibility with the MILLIONS OF FANS who were deeply offended by those HURTFUL WORDS AND RENAMING US ALL AS…..well, you know what he said. I would regret it if the words I have spoken would in any way harm Blake personally or his career and his chances for the future.
BEST OF LUCK TO YOU, BLAKE. Thanks All. RAY PRICE”
Shelton, earlier, had issued this statement: “I absolutely have no doubt I could have worded it better (as always ha!) and I apologize to Mr. Price and any other heroes of mine that it may have offended,” Shelton wrote after his quote sparked a fire. “I meant every word I said. Country music is my life and it’s future AND past is important to me. I’ll put my love and respect and knowledge about it up against anybody out there… ANYBODY…”