Richie Shelton was Blake Shelton’s older half-brother, a country music star. Richie was born on July 6, 1966, and lived in Ada, Oklahoma, with his mom, stepfather, and younger brothers and sisters. Richie was a nice, good-natured, fun-loving kid who enjoyed music. As short as his life was, it had a big, lasting impact on Blake.
Quick Facts About Richie Shelton
| Full Name | Richard Don “Richie” Shelton |
| Birthdate | July 6, 1966 |
| Occupation | N/A |
| Husband/Wife | Had a girlfriend (name not known) |
| Died | 13 November 1990 |
| Age | 24 years old at the time of death |
| Parents | Mother: Dorothy Shelton Biological Father: Ronnie Musgrove Stepfather: Richard Shelton |
| Siblings | Blake Shelton (half-brother), Endy Shelton (half-sister) |
| Children | None (was traveling with his girlfriend’s 3-year-old son at time of accident) |
| Net Worth | <$1 million |
Richie’s Family and Childhood
Richie was Dorothy Shelton‘s only child from her first marriage to Ronnie Musgrove. Her second husband, Richard Shelton, married her after she divorced Ronnie. Richie gained a stepdad in Dick. Dick treated Richie just like his own son. Dorothy and Dick later had two other children: Endy Shelton and Blake Shelton.
The siblings were close. Blake admired Richie. He was more than a brother — he was a role model.
Richie’s Affection for Music
Richie enjoyed music. He liked Hank Williams Jr., Waylon Jennings, Bob Seger, and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He listened to their songs loudly in his bedroom. Blake’s room was directly across from Richie’s. He could always hear the music. That’s how Blake began to fall in love with country and rock songs.
Blake has stated numerous times that Richie was his first musical idol.
A Tragic Accident
On November 13, 1990, tragedy struck. Richie was a passenger in a car with his girlfriend and her 3-year-old son. The car crashed into the rear of a stopped school bus. They all died.
Richie was just 24 years old. Blake was only 14 years old.
The accident came as a shock to the whole family. Blake was devastated. He says losing Richie transformed his life forever.
Blake’s Tribute Through Music
Years later, Blake co-wrote a song called “Over You” with his then-wife, Miranda Lambert. The song was about Richie’s death. It shared the pain Blake felt and the memories he kept close.
The song was a hit. It won CMA and ACM Song of the Year. The lyrics were touching and real. One line said,
“They say I’ll be OK, but I’m not going to ever get over you.”
That line indicates how much Blake continues to miss Richie.
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Recalling Richie
Blake never forgot his brother. On several anniversaries, Blake writes messages to commemorate Richie. He reminds his fans about how brief and valuable life is.
Blake received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2023. He provided a special tribute to Richie at the ceremony. Blake told that he wished Richie had been present to see it.
Blake never forgets Richie’s memory. It reflects in his songs, his lyrics, and the lifestyle he leads.
