Blake Shelton’s brutal honesty just earned him a big prize from the fans 

GRAIN VALLEY, MO - JULY 27: Recording artist Blake Shelton surprised Smithworks fans with a pop-up performance at Whiskey Tango on July 27, 2016 in Grain Valley, Missouri. (Photo by Fernando Leon/Getty Images for Pernod Ricard)

Male Artist of the Year: Blake Shelton

Blake Shelton had quite an eventful 2015. With his divorce from Miranda Lambert and subsequent relationship with Gwen Stefani, fans were left wondering if he would address the situation on his new album come 2016.

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They got their answer when Blake released the provocative first single, “Came Here to Forget,” which quickly shot to No. 1 on the country chart. It was the first release from his 10th studio album, “If I’m Honest,” which came out in early spring, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums chart.

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“If I’m Honest” also boasted three songs co-written by Blake — “Friends” written for “The Angry Birds Movie;” the inspiring “Savior’s Shadow;” and “Go Ahead and Break My Heart,” which found him collaborating as a writer and performer with his lady, Gwen. The album also included the Top 10 single “She’s Got a Way with Words” that had tongues wagging over the implication that it was about his ex, Miranda, although Blake wasn’t a writer on the song.

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Perhaps it was this music coupled with this unprecedented peek into the life of the country superstar that encouraged fans to vote in droves during the inaugural Rare Country Awards, subsequently awarding Blake with the coveted Male Artist of the Year win.

Blake was very happy to get the news about his big win.

“I’m so excited,” he says. “I’m very proud of it because I found it’s all fan-voted. So, thank you guys so much for being so loyal after all these years. Country music is still my life no matter what I end up doing. Country music is the thing that moves me and drives me to do what I do. Thank you guys so much for hanging in there with me and voting for me. Love you. Thank you, Rare Country!”

Congratulations, Blake Shelton.

We can’t wait to see what you dream up for 2017.

What do you think?

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