As reported by TMZ, some country music fans are angry about Blake Shelton’s recent performance on a CBS special called “New Year’s Eve Live: Nashville’s Big Bash.” The CBS special was advertised and labeled a live television event. But some viewers discovered Blake had pre-recorded his appearance on the New Year’s Eve special.
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This fact did not go down well with some Blake fans on X. Trace Adkins is not receiving as much heat for pre-taping his appearance on the CBS special, but Blake received the most criticism from fans. Blake reunited with his old buddy Trace for the CBS special, where they performed duets of old hits “Hell Right” and “Hillbilly Bone.” The trouble started when Blake’s fans on social media began to question exactly where he was on New Year’s Eve.
Fans Rushed to X to Share Their Thoughts on Blake’s Performances
Then, the real truth was discovered. Just a few minutes after his performance with Trace aired on the CBS special, Blake got captured on X in real-time by a fan. As it turns out, Blake was actually at the Winstar World Casino in Thackerville, Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve.
A Blake fan even posted a video of Blake singing “Goodbye Time” during his concert at the Winstar Casino. This Blake fan gushed over Blake’s performance in Oklahoma on New Year’s Eve. They wrote on X, “It’s been so long since Blake sang this live. He did so beautifully – one of the very few who can give this song justice.” Other fans who heard the song chimed in with positive feedback.
Another user on X confessed that they started to cry at the first note Blake sang. They said his live performance of “Goodbye Time” was “one of his all-time best vocals.”
While someone else wrote, “Love this song. He sounds so good.”
Unfortunately for Blake, all the praise he got during his casino concert in Oklahoma began alerting other fans about where he really was on New Year’s Eve. Not only was Blake criticized for pre-taping his set for an allegedly live New Year’s Eve special in Nashville. He was also criticized for taking a casino gig in Oklahoma.
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Many unimpressed Blake fans said it was a “lackluster” appearance. Some critics online on X even accused Blake of miming the lyrics during his set with Trace. Blake and Trace’s performance of “Hell Right” got a lot of negative feedback too. Fans who remembered the song’s original version said that Blake and Trace didn’t sound like authentic country music anymore.
Blake and Trace’s Friendship Appeared Stron on NYE
A few sources, including American Songwriter, appeared to be doing damage control for Blake. The outlet even published a report claiming that Blake and Trace kicked off their set right after TR finished his performance. According to American Songwriter, Blake and Trace took to the stage at the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park. The report made it sound like Blake and Trace were getting the New Year’s celebration going in Nashville.
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American Songwriter included insider information about the long friendship between Blake and Trace. They claimed that when Blake heard the demo for Hillbilly Bone the first time he said, “It sounds like a Trace Adkins song. When I heard it, I thought, ‘Why didn’t Trace get his hands on it first.” So Blake invited Trace to record the song with him more than a decade ago.
Blake discussed his friendship with Trace, and his inside information appeared on the Songfacts website. Blake said about Trace, “I feel like he’s really a friend, and when this is all over, we’ll still be friends.”
While Blake’s pre-recorded appearance has created a scandal, it was obvious that Trace and Blake’s friendship is as strong as ever.
