Blake Shelton. Courtesy
called his country music predecessors "old farts" ... and boy, has he paid for it.
Shelton said in a recent episode of Great American Country's "Backstory" series: “Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa’s music, and I don’t care how many of these old farts around Nashville going, ‘My God, that ain’t country!’ Well that’s because you don’t buy records anymore, jacka–. The kids do, and they don’t want to buy the music you were buying.”
Country icon
Ray Price, 87, showed who was daddy when he turned Shelton's often acerbic tongue against him.
In a statement from Price's publicist, he said: “It’s a shame that I have spend 63 years in this business trying to introduce music to a larger audience and to make it easier for the younger artists who are coming behind me.
"Every now and then some young artist will record a rock and roll type song, have a hit first time out with kids only. This is why you see stars come with a few hits only and then just fade away believing they are God’s answer to the world. This guy sounds like in his own mind that his head is so large no hat ever made will fit him. Stupidity Reigns Supreme!!!!!!! -- Ray Price (CHIEF 'OLD FART” & JACKA–')”
"P.S. YOU SHOULD BE SO LUCKY AS US OLD-TIMERS. CHECK BACK IN 63 YEARS ...”
Yes, he said that. Blake retorted that he's blazing a trail into the country offroads, much like Price did in his early days.
However, Shelton
also apologized.
Said Shelton: “I absolutely have no doubt I could have worded it better (as always ha!) and I apologize to Mr. Price and any other heroes of mine that it may offended. I meant every word I said. Country music is my life and it’s future AND past is important to me...."
Monday, the verbal slings and arrows came to an end when Price accepted Shelton's apology. He wrote on his Facebook: "I HAVE ACCEPTED BLAKE SHELTON’S APOLOGY TO ME PERSONALLY. I think Blake is a fine young man with a big future in Country Music."
Price allegedly used his tech savvy to launch a troll war against the Oklahoma native before the truce. Multiple sources report he's been "blocked" from sending friend requests and other things for 30 days.
