"[In 2005], I was on tour with Rascal Flatts, and I was going through a lot of changes in my life," explains Blake. "One of which was a divorce, [and one] that a lot of people didn't know about ... record company troubles and trying to make some changes there. Another was a management change. Word got out, I was a young kid and had some songs on the radio, that I was looking for management. I will never in my life forget this, because Brandon Blackstock -- Narvel's son and Reba's stepson -- he was the tour manager for Rascal Flatts at the time. The way it works on the Rascal Flatts tour that I found out is, they get out there and they're running around crazy and they do their show and 'good night.' They go back behind the [stage], and they have to pee by then. Well, there's no time to go all the way to the bathroom because they have an encore to do. So, there's milk jugs back there with holes cut out of the top -- and I don't care if they get mad at me for this -- but they have to go. So, they pee in these milk jugs, right?"
"Part of that tour was that I came out during the encore and sang the last song with them," Blake continues. "So, they had already come out, did their show, came back, peed in the jugs and went back out and started the encore, and I'm just standing back there and Brandon Blackstock's standing right there and walks up to me and he says -- and it's real loud -- he says, 'Hey! I heard you're looking for a new manager, and I want you to think about me,' as he was holding two milk jugs full of urine in both of his hands. I remember going, 'What an idiot! What are you talking about?' But the guy was very persistent ... I finally just decided that kind of passion is what I need in my career is a guy like that, and a guy with the power of a Narvel Blackstock and the power of a Reba McEntire."
"When I made the decision to do it, I found out yes, they are a company, but they're a family. When you're brought into that, they treat you like family," adds Blake. "When Reba was standing there emotional and was crying, and Narvel was crying ... I've been with them for five years now, and it's been a battle. I mean, every day has been a grind and it's just not been easy. [It's] like when you've been pushing on a wall and pushing, and that moment when it finally hits the ground, that's kind of what it felt like [to win the CMA award]. It's awesome!"
Blake’s next scheduled tour stop is in Wisconsin Dells, Wis., November 20. Check here for more Blake Shelton tour dates.
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