Blake Shelton became a country star on his music alone, but since he first appeared on NBC’s ‘The Voice‘ last season, the 6-foot-5 man’s man with a soft side has truly become a favored celebrity. In a recent interview, Shelton talked about his role on the hit show, his marriage to no-nonsense country artist Miranda Lambert and why he didn’t know how to get to his own home when he was living in L.A.

“I felt a little like the black sheep, he tells Redbook about his beginnings on ‘The Voice.’ “It wasn’t until [executive producer] Mark Burnett set up a dinner about three days into production, when it was just the four of us sitting down together, that we clicked … All of a sudden I was having conversations with people I had only read about in tabloids, and they’re just normal people. And they know who I am, and that I [was] getting married to Miranda, and they know who she is. It was surreal.”

When asked if he’s the Paula Abdul of the show, the ever quippy Shelton replied, “You mean because of my alcohol consumption? OK, really, I think that’s because of the relationship I formed last year with [contestants] Dia and Xenia, the two young ladies I mentored for the finals. It was like I was a big brother or a fatherly figure. They were like family to me.” Shelton adds that the softer side he revealed on the show last season was a surprise to Lambert, and to himself as well. While he says that was a welcomed side, Shelton maintains that he didn’t need to be temper or tame his all-man attitude when pursuing his now wife.

“Miranda doesn’t want — and I’m using this for lack of a better word — a wuss. She doesn’t want a whipped guy. That’s not attractive to her, and honestly, I can’t imagine that would be attractive to any girl,” he explains. “I think that’s one of the things that’s kept us interesting to one another. She’s the same way with me. She was my girlfriend and now she’s my wife, but my God, she’s still Miranda Lambert, and nobody can tell her what to do or boss her around!”

Most at home with his wife on a ranch somewhere, the Oklahoma boy readily admits that living in L.A. during the show’s taping put him way out of his element. “There is nothing about L.A. I feel comfortable with yet, except when I’m on this set,” he says. “In fact, I don’t even know how to get around this town. Last year I did ‘The Tonight Show,’ and when Jay Leno asked me where I lived, I swear to God, I had no idea how to get there.”

Catch Shelton on ‘The Voice’ Mondays at 8PM ET on NBC.

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