Shelton and Lambert sharing love and stage — but not a bus
By Cathalena E. Burch
cburch@azstarnet.com
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 10.09.2008
Hot country couple Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert are on the road together, headlining their first-ever tour.
It will be the first time for many to see how the pair's nearly two-year romance plays on a big stage, but don't expect to see the rebel and the rouser take on the lovey-dovey vibe of Faith and Tim's "Soul2Soul." Shelton and Lambert don't really roll that way.
Their public displays of affection are limited to her doing backup vocals on his No. 1 hit "Home" and co-writing and dueting on "Bare Skin Rug" off Shelton's fifth album, "Startin' Fires" (due Nov. 18).
"It's just a fun song. It's totally different. It's redneck sexy," said Lambert.
Lambert, 24, is busy writing her next album, which she expects to record in November, so there's a chance Shelton might repay the favor.
Lambert and Shelton will perform Oct. 17 at the Arizona State Fair in Phoenix. The fair opens Friday and runs through Nov. 2.
We caught up with Lambert on her cell phone last Friday, hours before the 10-date tour kicked off in Virginia.
Who first mentioned aloud the idea of touring together?
"I think it was just both of us. It's a good time to test the waters and see. We're both in periods in our careers . . . Blake had a No. 1 song and I had my first Top 10, and I think that helped our confidence."
What's been the response?
"Everybody seemed to be onboard. It's selling very well. We've been doing a couple of fairs so we got the first-show jitters out of our systems."
How is the show organized? What can we expect?
"I don't want to give too much away because there are a lot of surprises. But there are moments when I do what I'm doing and moments where he does what he's doing. And there are moments where we are onstage together. It's awesome for everybody. He's got this traditional country sound and he's hilarious. . . . Then with my show, it's got a rock edge to it. There's a little something for everybody's taste of music."
Is there a lot of flash and effects in the stage show?
"One thing we both agree on is that we want it to be about the music."
Are you nervous?
"I think everyone was a little nervous because we are all sort of putting it on the line. This is the first time Blake and I have both headlined so it's kind of a first-time thing for everybody. But so far it's been great and the show is really fun."
Are you guys sharing a bus? If so, how's that working for you?
"No. One of us usually rides with the other one, but we have to have our own space because, honestly, he gets on my nerves if I have to sit on a bus with him all day. I have to have my own stuff and my own space. You know how you see him, how he is in interviews? He is like that all the time; he never turns it off. I'm like, 'Dude, chill out. I gotta have some space.' I'm sure I get on his nerves, as well."
Is this the start of the Blake-Miranda road show?
"I don't know about that yet. We really are just so different. We just wanted to keep our relationship really real. We don't want to do anything that's over-the-top cheeseball. . . . We are going to test the waters here. We have a great relationship and we want to make sure we keep it that way first. If music gets to be involved in it, that's even better."
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