Country singer Blake Shelton says that he’s “in a lot happier place these days,” with an album, “Startin’ Fires,” that debuted at No. 7 on the Billboard country charts in November and a strong relationship with fellow artist Miranda Lambert.

But, he notes, the success of his chart-topping single “She Wouldn’t Be Gone” and his current hit “I’ll Just Hold On” tell him that happy doesn’t mean a lot to his fans.

“It says something about the audience; ‘We don’t want the happy Blake, we want the miserable guy in there,’ ” the 33-year-old Oklahoma native says with a laugh. “I’m a country singer, so people expect me to be depressed once in awhile, I guess. And I will be again, I’m sure.”

But right now Shelton, who’s recorded five songs already for his next album, prefers peace and happiness — and, apparently, Twitter, where he’s a ubiquitous presence, particularly while he’s on the road and away from Lambert.

“Yeah, man, I’m addicted to it,” Shelton acknowledges. “I absolutely love ... the ability to have a thought and not have to hold it in. It’s one thing to be sitting here talking to the guys ... and it’s another thing when I can express something like how I always felt like my pinkie is too lazy. It just kind of lays on its side and doesn’t really help the others.

“Now that is something you can tweet — and get people to respond to.”



Blake Shelton and Love & Theft perform at 8 p.m. Friday (July 31) at SoundBoard in the MotorCity Casino Hotel, 2901 Grand River Ave., Detroit. Tickets are $38.50, $44.50 and $48.50. Call (313) 237-7711 or visit www.MotorCityCasino.com.