Firmly ensconced on the music charts since his debut with “Austin” in 2001, Blake Shelton has spent the last 10 years recording hit after hit for his fans. On Friday, March 11, Shelton is performing at the Crown Coliseum. Tickets have been on sale for awhile, so don’t miss your chance to see this big music star.

Born in Ada, Okla., in 1976, Shelton wrote songs as a teenager and played in honky-tonk bars. When he was 17, Shelton met Mae Boren Axton at an event honoring her contributions to music. Axton is most famous for her role in co-writing “Heartbreak Hotel,” Elvis Prestley’s first single with RCA. Shelton was in the entertainment line up at the event. Axton heard Shelton sing and told him that she believed he would find success as an entertainer, but to do it he would have to move to Nashville. Shelton had been out of high school only two weeks when he decided to pack up and move to the country music capital.

It wasn’t long until Shelton was pumping out hit after hit and had made a name for himself on the country music charts. His tunes are catchy and easy to relate to. His series of chart-busting hits can attest to that.

Rik Knopp, the director of Marketing and Sales at the Crown Center, had this to say, “We couldn’t be more excited about the upcoming Blake Shelton show. To get such a high caliber performer at a time when he is one of the hottest acts touring is a big win for this community.”

With 17 singles on the country charts in the past decade, Shelton has seen seven of his songs race to the number one spot; “Austin” (2001), “The Baby” (2003), “Some Beach” (2004–2005), “Home” (2008), “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” (2009), “Hillbilly Bone” (2010), a duet with Trace Adkins, and “All About Tonight” (2010). Additionally, three more of his singles have reached Top Ten: a cover version of Conway Twitty’s “Goodbye Time”, “Nobody but Me” and “I’ll Just Hold On.”

Shelton’s latest release LOADED: The Best of Blake Shelton debuted on the country charts in the top 10 placing him in the unique position of being one of the few artists who have charted three records in one year. Garth Brooks, Kenny Chesney and Alan Jackson are also in this group.

Shelton was recently nominated for his first Grammy award for “Best Country Collaboration with Vocals” for his single “Hillbilly Bone” which has won an award at every major Country award show this year — the ACA’s for “Music Video of the Year” and “Music Video: Male,” the ACM Award for “Vocal Event of the Year,” CMA Award for “Musical Event of the Year” and CMT Award for “Collaborative Video of the Year.”

Knopp added that “A Grammy nominated winner of two American Country Awards and the Country Music Awards Male Vocalist of the Year, not to mention that just this week he hit number one on the Billboard charts for the third time in 10 months and eighth time overall — this is a homerun for us. Just check Ticketmaster’s fan reviews if you’re sitting on the fence about coming – fan’s are raving about his live performance and opening acts — they give him a 4.8 out of 5 stars. While you’re checking those out go ahead and buy your tickets and make March 11th a night to remember.”

Tickets are $49.50, $37.50, $32.50 and are available at www.ticketmaster.com or by calling the Crown box office at 438-4100.

PHOTO: Country music star Blake Shelton will perform at the Crown on March 11.