Blake Shelton delivered an emotional tribute to his late father and brother while serving as Grand Marshal at the Indy 500 — a moment that left fans teary-eyed. Standing tall in front of roaring crowds and revving engines, Shelton spoke from the heart, dedicating the honor to the two men who shaped his life and music. “They’re riding with me today,” he said, his voice cracking. Though the day was packed with speed and excitement, it was Blake’s heartfelt tribute that stole the spotlight — reminding everyone that even at one of the world’s loudest events, love and loss can speak volumes.
Blake Shelton celebrated Memorial Day weekend at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, where he served as Grand Marshal — and had the honor of giving the customary pre-race command for the drivers to head to their cars.

“It’s an honor to be here, everybody,” Shelton said in his speech, according to grainy, fan-captured footage (the moment was not broadcast on NBC, which was airing the race). “I don’t know about y’all, but I can’t take it anymore. Drivers, to your cars!”
Shelton was also a special guest of driver Jimmie Johnson, who collaborated with the country star on a custom helmet design that he wore during the race. The race took place on Sunday (May 29), just before Memorial Day, and so the “Helmet of Heroes” design was themed around honoring military service members, including those personally related to both Johnson and Shelton.

According to People, the helmet design put a spotlight on Johnson’s grandfathers: His maternal grandfather was a safety captain on an aircraft carrier during the Korean War, while his paternal grandfather served in World War II. Shelton’s military connection is just as personal: His dad served in the honor guard in Korea just after the Korean War, and his brother was in the Army.

“So I was raised at points thinking, ‘I guess I’m also going in at some point,’” he told People. “But there wasn’t any call for a guitar player in our military, so …”
Both Shelton’s father and brother have since died. His father, Dick, died in 2012 at the age of 71. His brother, Richie, died in 1990 due to a fatal car crash. The country star was just 14 years old at the time.

While the mood during Sunday’s race was festive, it had somber undertones for Shelton as he remembered his late father and brother. “What a weekend … wish my dad was able to see that,” the singer wrote on social media, where he also shared some snapshots of himself at the race and posing with Johnson and the special helmet.

“Thank you [Jimmie Johnson] for letting him and my brother have a spot on your helmet,” he continued. “Thinking about them extra today along with all the heroes who have served our country.”

Johnson finished 28th at the Indy 500 due to a wreck he sustained six laps from the finish line, but was still voted Rookie of the Year, according to IndyStar. Now that the race is over, his custom helmet is going on to serve another purpose: He’s giving one fan a chance to take it home.

Until Sept. 11, 2022, fans can enter for their chance to win the helmet by donating at least $48 to the American Legion. The Legion — a nonprofit organization of war veterans headquartered in Indiana — will be the benefit of all proceeds from the helmet giveaway. The lucky winner will be drawn following the NTT IndyCar Series season finale race at Laguna Seca Raceway. The helmet will be signed by both Shelton and Johnson.
Both Shelton’s father and brother have since died. His father, Dick, died in 2012 at the age of 71. His brother, Richie, died in 1990 due to a fatal car crash. The country star was just 14 years old at the time.

While the mood during Sunday’s race was festive, it had somber undertones for Shelton as he remembered his late father and brother. “What a weekend … wish my dad was able to see that,” the singer wrote on social media, where he also shared some snapshots of himself at the race and posing with Johnson and the special helmet.

“Thank you [Jimmie Johnson] for letting him and my brother have a spot on your helmet,” he continued. “Thinking about them extra today along with all the heroes who have served our country.”

Johnson finished 28th at the Indy 500 due to a wreck he sustained six laps from the finish line, but was still voted Rookie of the Year, according to IndyStar. Now that the race is over, his custom helmet is going on to serve another purpose: He’s giving one fan a chance to take it home.

Until Sept. 11, 2022, fans can enter for their chance to win the helmet by donating at least $48 to the American Legion. The Legion — a nonprofit organization of war veterans headquartered in Indiana — will be the benefit of all proceeds from the helmet giveaway. The lucky winner will be drawn following the NTT IndyCar Series season finale race at Laguna Seca Raceway. The helmet will be signed by both Shelton and Johnson.
No. 1: Blake Shelton used to have a pet turkey … named Turkey
This isn’t a real picture of Shelton’s turkey. In an interview with CMT in 2003, Shelton spoke of his hopes to bring Turkey to the next awards show he attended. “Up until this point, [Turkey]’s been to Arkansas one time. He has been to Oklahoma, which is where he was born, and now he lives in Tennessee. So, I feel like, without me, he doesn’t get to do things, and I feel a responsibility to show him the world,” the singer said. Sadly, Turkey wasn’t meant to attend awards shows. He died of heat stroke in June 2003, per Great American Country.

No. 2: He was invited to join the Grand Ole Opry via Twitter
Blake Shelton was the first person to ever be invited to join the Grand Ole Opry via Twitter. The actual tweet read: “@blakeshelton, you’re invited to join the Grand Ole Opry. See you on 10/23/2010!” Shelton, being the active Twitter user he is, promptly responded, “Hmmm… Let me think… OK!!!!!!!!” Trace Adkins was on hand to get a big hug from the Oklahoma native.
No. 3: His biggest pet peeves: under-dressed people and bare feet
Shelton once told CMT that he hates when sees “somebody standing on the stage of the Grand Ole Opry or some formal place and they’re wearing a T-shirt and baseball cap,” calling it “unacceptable.” He also hates bare feet, pleading with fellow artists to “cover [their] stinkin’, nasty feet” in music videos. According to Shelton, “Flip-flops aren’t even acceptable.” This kind of explains why Shelton is almost always wearing a jacket on The Voice, doesn’t it?
No. 4: He believes he has one of the “crappiest tattoos in the world”
Shelton drew his own tattoo, and it’s supposed to be deer tracks, since he loves to hunt. However, people often mistake the tracks for something else… “To this moment, people still come up to me and say, ‘Man, ladybugs … that’s cool. What does that mean to you?’” the singer reveals, hilariously. “I probably have the crappiest tattoo — not only in country music — but maybe the world,” he says. He later had the barbed wire added to make the tattoo “more manly.” Good friend Craig Morgan is particularly quick to make fun of Shelton’s tattoo.
No. 5: A fan once terrified him by giving him an iguana as a gift
“We were playing a fair, and a few people were handing me stuffed animals and flowers, but one person handed me a paper sack,” Shelton told the Boot back in 2008. “So I took all the stuff back to the bus. I put the sack in my lap and opened it, and a live iguana jumped out of the sack and onto my shirt. I screamed like a little girl! I think it took a year off my life — it scared the crap out of me.”
No. 6: He’ll defend that mullet
“Nobody else in the world seems to think it was as awesome as I still think it was,” Shelton once told People. The singer used to have a mullet, and he refused to cut it, despite people telling him he looked bad. “Basically, it has gotten to the point where it is just a matter of pride. And I know it looks like crap, but it is just more fun to me to irritate people than cut my hair to satisfy them,” he recalls of his days with long locks. During the pandemic he flirted with bringing it back but common sense got the best of him.
No. 7: His mom was more excited than he was when he was named one of the sexiest men alive
“I didn’t really understand what the deal was. So I said some stupid stuff! Then I found out it was a big deal … so I don’t think they know me very well!” Shelton said of the acknowledgment from People magazine. “But my favorite thing about it is that I know my mom, who cuts hair in Ada, Okla., will cut that page out of the magazine and tape it to her mirror and point it out to everybody who comes to the shop.”
No. 8: Shhh! He used to hate reality TV
When asked what reality show he would like to appear on (if he ever were to), Shelton responded, “I hate reality shows. But if I had to be on one, I’d have to say Realtree Road Trips on the Outdoor Channel.” Well, we’re sure his opinion on reality TV has changed slightly since, considering he is a coach on The Voice — definitely a far cry from Realtree Road Trips.
No. 9: He used to be a pageant kid
This is just too good to be true. “My mom entered me into a pageant [when I was 6 or 7 years old]. I still don’t know why and it’s still the worst experience of my life, being in a pageant,” Shelton told CMT in a since-deleted video interview. “That has to have been the first one, and I can’t remember because she put me in like two or three in a row there. And I remember singing ‘Cat Scratch Fever’ by Ted Nugent, and ‘Old Time Rock ‘n’ Roll’ by Bob Seger — [they] were probably my two signature songs.” We wonder what his costumes looked like! To Blake’s mom: Please put that on YouTube ASAP!
No. 10: If you build it, she’ll say “YES!”
We’re not sure that he built it with his own hands, but Shelton built Stefani — a practicing Catholic — a chapel on his property in Oklahoma. This is where he proposed to her, as seen in her photo on Instagram. This is where they may get married, too, according to some sources, but that remains to be seen.