Shelton Explains Comments About Country Music Evolution

Blake Shelton’s comments about the evolution of country music, which aired on GAC Backstory, spurred a backlash from some country traditionalists yesterday (Jan. 24).
During Shelton’s interview he said, “Country music has to evolve in order to survive. Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music. And I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, ‘My God, that ain’t country!’ Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jackass. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.”
Of course, he delivered the remarks in his typical tongue-in-cheek fashion, as can be seen in this video clip.
Still, when the comments attracted negative reactions from a few fellow country singers and fans, Shelton Tweeted a follow-up explanation. It reads, in part:
“The truth is my statement was and STILL is about how we as the new generation of country artists have to keep re-inventing country music to keep it popular…I apologize to Mr. [Ray] Price and any other heroes of mine that it may offended. I meant every word I said. Country music is my life and it’s [sic] future AND past is important to me.”
See the full statements on blog.gactv.com.