When Blake Shelton moved to Nashville to pursue a career in music, he was offered a job immediately – painting a house.

Although painting a house was not what he had in mind, he gladly accepted the offer because the owner of the house was legendary songwriter Mae Boren Axton, whom he’d met several years before.

The native of Ada, Oklahoma, which is a town of about 15,000 people, Shelton has been in love with the outdoors since he was a child.

“I grew up loving the outdoors  hunting, fishing and things like that,” Shelton said.

“I used to spend a lot of summer time with my Uncle Darrell, and he was the guy who’d go fishing with me on the river. When we got home, he’d grab his guitar and start playing and I was in awe of that.”

His uncle was a major influence to him as far as learning to play the guitar, as well as teaching him to write songs.

“I’ve always loved music, but I didn’t know anything about it. I didn’t know how to play the guitar, and he’s the guy that taught me that. He really got me interested in music and writing songs,” Shelton said.

By the age of 17, Shelton had his heart set on where he wanted his life to go.

“By the time I was 17, man, I knew that this was what I wanted to do with my life,” he said.

Shelton played at a local opry theater in the Ada area, and was hired as a regular performer after several guest appearances.

“That’s where I really cut my teeth as far as being on stage and learning to entertain the crowds, talk to them, things like that,” he said. “I was only 16-17 at the time, so I didn’t play too many bars. When I did, we just had to beg and beg to get in there, and when we did, it was almost like don’t ask again, so that was kind of hard.”

Shelton took off for Nashville, still only 17 years old, in June of 1994, landing his house painting job at Axton’s house.

“She was great to me, man,” he said. “She really took me under her wing and introduced me to a lot of people in Nashville.”

“Looking back on that time that was a real important part of my life, just being with those people,” he said.

At the same time he was painting, he came into contact with Bobby Braddock, who had written a lot of songs in the past.

“I think meeting Bobby was the biggest break of my career  probably my life. He took interest in my vocals, and was interested in producing. We talked about what we wanted to see on an album, and found it to be pretty similar,” he said.

Along with Braddock, Shelton took the four or five songs he had recorded in Nashville and started looking for a record label.

The now defunct Giant Records signed Shelton, but even with a record deal, things weren’t as easy as they may have seemed.

“Giant wouldn’t put out the album, and Bobby stood by me through all of that when he didn’t have to  he’s a cool guy,” Shelton said.

A short while later, Giant Records closed its doors without putting out Shelton’s album.

“I thought it was over, man,” he said. “I’d been hearing rumors that Giant was going to close, and in March of last year it began to happen.

“Austin” (Shelton’s first single) was scheduled to be released, I think, April 28 of last year, and Giant Records closed its doors on April 18.”

“Luckily though, there was a handful of radio stations that got their hands on “Austin,” and it was already starting to chart  Warner took notice of that, took my project to that side of the label and it’s worked out good for everyone,” he said.

It’s working out well, indeed. “Austin,” once officially released to radio stations, went to the number one spot on the charts and stayed there a record-breaking five consecutive weeks.

“It’s still all a blur to me from last year,” he said. “You start feeling like a rock star or something because everyone wants a piece of you, they want to meet you, and know who you are.

“The only regret I have is that I didn’t document it better  take pictures and keep track of everything that was going on.

“What I do is sing and pick the guitar, and when you get that kind of attention happening all the sudden like that, you don’t know how to react,” he said.

Shelton’s second single, “All Over Me,” was released and did well on the charts. His current single is a song called “Ol’ Red.”

“I’m pumped about that song right now,” Shelton said. “It’s a story song, almost like a miniature movie  it just blows my mind that they accomplished what they (the songwriters) did lyrically.

“It’s my favorite song in the world,” he said.

Even though Shelton is out there establishing himself as an artist, he’s still not sure of the direction he wants to take.

“I don’t really have a direction as an artist  I’m only 25 and don’t even know who I am as a person. It’s a growing process that I’m figuring out as I go,” he said.

Shelton has started work for his next album, due out next year sometime, and is currently holding claim to a nomination for the Academy of Country Music’s Top New Vocalist award.

“I owe all that to the success of “Austin.” It’s overwhelming to be nominated for an ACM, and both guys I’m nominated with (Chris Cagle and Phil Vassar) are real consistent and have great careers so far.”

In a few weeks, following the ACM awards (on television Wednesday), Shelton will resume his schedule, stopping in Winsted.

“I hope I get to do some fishing, ‘cause I love that stuff,” he said.