The mom of the former The Voice coach is a songwriter in her own right.
Blake Shelton might have a song called “My Eyes,” but his eyes are all his mom’s.
If you have seen pictures of Shelton’s sister, Endy Shelton Intrieri, you know there is a strong resemblance between the two siblings — and the genes run strong through the entire family, including their mother, Dorothy Shackleford.
What to know about Blake Shelton’s mom, Dorothy Shackleford
Not only is Dorothy Shelton’s mom, she is also a writer and artist in her own right. The Oklahoma native co-wrote the song “Time For Me to Come Home,” with the former The Voice coach, for his 2012 holiday album, Cheers, It’s Christmas.
“Blake was writing the song for his Christmas album and said he needed help with the second verse,” Dorothy told Country Living in 2018. “So I came up with the second verse and that’s how the song was born.”
Not only did she co-write the tune, but Shelton asked her to help sing the song on his holiday special, Blake Shelton’s Not So Family Christmas.
“That thrilled me but at the same time it made me very nervous because I’m not a great singer,” she said. “I just about passed out, but somehow I got through it.”
Dorothy then expanded the story and co-wrote a book with Travis Thrasher, Time For Me to Come Home, based on the song. The novel was then adapted into a successful Hallmark Channel movie, which spawned a franchise of additional movies.
Blake Shelton and Dorothy Shackleford attend Blake Shelton’s Star Ceremony on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on May 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
“When I was making my Christmas album, I said, ‘Mom, let’s me and you write a song together, and you can sing it with me on my album. And there’s your Lucille Ball moment. You can finally have your moment to be famous,” Blake said on From Apple Music With Love. “We had no idea it was going to end up turning into a book deal for my mom.”
“Then from the book, it became basically this series of movies,” he added. “It’s amazing what they’re able to do over there, but it’s been a cool experience to have that with my mom.”
During an appearance on TODAY back in 2013, Dorothy said, “This is my first book, but I’ve wrote hundreds of song. Nobody will record them, but I have.”
In addition to writing songs and books, Dorothy is a former hairdresser, and is a co-owner of Junk Stars, a quirky store full of unique and vintage finds, in Tishomingo, OK.
Dorothy is a mom of three. She had a son, Richie, with her first husband, Ronnie Musgrove, and then had Endy and Blake with her second husband, Dick Shelton. After they divorced, Dorothy married Mike Shackleford, who was Blake’s first boss. Dorothy’s first son, Richie tragically died in a car accident in 1990.
Mike Intrieri, Endy Intrieri, Ryan Intrieri, Blake Shelton, Dorothy Shackleford, and Jace Intrieri attend Blake Shelton’s Star Ceremony on The Hollywood Walk Of Fame on May 12, 2023 in Hollywood, California. Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images
Last year, when Blake’s family traveled to L.A. to see the country singer receive his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Shelton dedicated the honor to his late brother.
“I was talking to my mom this morning, and I was just thinking about what I’m gonna say when I get up here. She said to me, ‘I wish Richie could’ve been here to see this and everything that you’ve done.’ Richie was my brother that I lost many, many years ago. So I dedicate my star on this Walk of Fame to my brother Richie,” he said at the end of his acceptance speech.
It is in the photos from the Walk of Fame ceremony that you can really see the resemblance between Blake and his mom, especially in their kindhearted eyes.
