Blake Shelton is facing extensive criticism online after his prerecorded New Year's Eve performance, with some even going as far as labeling it an embarrassment to country music.
Viewers reacted negatively after discovering that CBS's 'New Year's Eve Live: Nashville's Big Bash,' initially advertised as a live show, was actually prerecorded and featured Blake Shelton, as per TMZ.
Blake Shelton Faces Backlash for Pre-recorded NYE Show
During the event, the 47-year-old country star took to the stage alongside Trace Adkins, 61, to revisit their 2011 hit, 'Hillbilly Bone.'
However, keen-eared fans quickly noticed that the performance had been prerecorded, likely due to Blake Shelton's scheduling conflict. The country singer, who is married to popstar Gwen Stefani, had a prior engagement at Oklahoma's WinStar Casino on the same night.
Despite the disappointment surrounding the prerecorded nature of the performance, Blake Shelton and Trace donned matching black button-down shirts and jeans as they treated fans to a nostalgic rendition of their over-a-decade-old song. They also performed the hit 'Hell Right.'
The star-studded appearance was met with mixed reactions from the audience. While many fans were thrilled to witness the duo performing together again after years apart, others expressed fury over the prerecording, resulting in some branding the entire performance as an embarrassment to country music.
Social media platforms were flooded with comments from disappointed fans. Some users playfully questioned how Blake Shelton could be in two places at once, sarcastically remarking on his seemingly "fast" tour bus.
Another fan expressed their admiration for both Blake Shelton and Trace Adkins but deemed their song collaboration 'Hell Right' as one of the worst songs they had ever heard.
Criticism went as far as users on platforms like Twitter hashtagging their posts with "#CBSNashvilleNYE WTF is this?" and expressing their discontent with the performances of Thomas Rhett and Blake Shelton, considering them subpar and an affront to country music, according to Daily Mail.
Blake Shelton's Marriage Dilemma Rumors
Adding to the speculation surrounding Blake Shelton's busy holiday season, he was notably absent from spending New Year's Eve with his wife, Gwen Stefani. In an interview with Access Hollywood, Gwen explained that while she had initially planned to support her husband at his show, she was called to perform in Vegas.
She humorously remarked on her past Vegas experience and decided to take up the opportunity this time. However, this separation fueled rumors and speculation about the state of their marriage, especially considering their recent lack of public appearances together.
The controversy surrounding Blake Shelton's performance was further amplified by accusations of miming to a pre-recorded track. A section of fans felt that the song choices, particularly 'Hell Right,' deviated too far from the traditional country sound they cherished, further widening the gap between Blake's performance and what they deemed to be real country music.
Consequently, some fans went as far as labeling the performance as an embarrassment to the genre. As the new year unfolds, Blake Shelton finds himself facing not only professional criticism but also personal speculation about his marriage.
Fans and observers are keen to see how the prominent figure in country music will address these challenges and navigate his career and personal life moving forward, Celeb Tattler reported.
