Blake Shelton paid a surprise visit to students at Ada High School in Ada, Oklahoma, for a very good reason. The 48-year-old visited his alma mater to celebrate the launch and expansion of his hometown’s music program, on behalf of Music Will, the largest nonprofit for music education in schools.
In addition to programs and school presentations, Music Will also provided acoustic guitars, electric guitars, a drum kit, mic stands, amps, strings and guitar straps for Ada High School.
“I wanted to come up and be a part of this because I think this is a really cool opportunity for any of you students out here that are interested in music,” Shelton shared. “Whether it’s a career path for you, something that you want to pursue, or you just want to learn how to play the guitar. Thank you to Music Will for what we’re doing here today.”
Not only was Shelton celebrating the new and innovative music programs and initiatives, but also the tenth anniversary of his Bringing Back the Sunshine record, which featured Ada’s town water cover as the album’s artwork. The program was made possible thanks to the generosity of two Music Will donors.
“We’re thrilled to be launching this new program in Blake Shelton’s name, right here in his hometown of Ada, Oklahoma,” Music Will CEO Mike Wasserman said. “It’s an honor to celebrate the tenth anniversary of Bringing Back the Sunshine with the community that inspired it. Thanks to the generosity of our [donors], we’re not only commemorating this special occasion, but also expanding music education opportunities for students in a way that will have a lasting impact. We’re excited to see the positive changes this program will bring to schools here in Ada and beyond.”
Shelton will likely have new music of his own coming soon. After leaving Warner Music Nashville, where he had been for the first 23 years of his career, the Grand Ole Opry member signed with BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville. He also recorded a new version of the Christmas carol, “Go Tell It On the Mountain” for the holiday comedy film, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, available on October 18.
“I love everything about Christmas, especially music that makes me feel as good inside as the holiday itself,” Shelton said at the time. “This movie is fun and heartwarming and captures the true holiday spirit. So we wanted to record a song that expresses reverence and faith and puts a smile on your face. ‘Go Tell It on the Mountain’ does all of that and I hope our version and the movie become a new Christmas tradition.”
Shelton will kick off his 2025 Friends & Heroes Tour in February, with Trace Adkins, Craig Morgan, Deana Carter and Emily Ann Roberts serving as his opening acts.
See a list of dates below. Find all of Shelton’s music and upcoming shows at BlakeShelton.com.
Friends & Heroes 2025 Tour Dates:
February 27 – Lexington, KY / Rupp Arena
February 28 – Knoxville, TN / Thompson-Boling Arena at Food City Center
March 1 – Greensboro, NC / Greensboro Coliseum
March 6 – Newark, NJ / Prudential Center
March 7 – Boston, MA / TD Garden
March 8 – Albany, NY / MVP Arena
March 13 – Greenville, SC / Bon Secours Wellness Arena
March 14 – North Charleston, SC / North Charleston Coliseum
March 15 – Atlanta, GA / State Farm Arena
March 20 – Baltimore, MD / CFG Bank Arena
March 21 – Uncasville, CT / Mohegan Sun Arena
March 22 -State College, PA / Bryce Jordan Center
Photo Credits: Christina Townsend Photography