“When you have a broken heart – at least when I do – you got to get it out of your system. You want people to sympathize with you. I was at rock bottom, in the middle of hell.”

Rumors of a breakdown dogged Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert’s brief marriage. Both are now contentedly wed to separate partners.

Given their prominent positions in the music industry, it is understandable why Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert fell in love so soon.

Even though he was still married when he met her, their shared love of music drew them together. Their love affair ended in divorce eventually.

Blake Shelton and Kaynette Williams during the 38th Annual CMA Awards at the Grand Ole Opry House November 9, 2004 in Nashville, Tennessee. | Source: Getty Images

Following their introductions at CMT’s 100 Greatest Duets Concert, the two musicians first came into contact with one another in 2005.

From the beginning, she was drawn to him, but he ignored her because he was married. In a similar vein, Shelton was instantly smitten with the “Drunk” singer.

The beginning of their romantic tale

In a subsequent interview, Lambert claimed to have seen Shelton’s wedding photo in Country Weekly and to have known he was married. She continued, saying:

“I should have known better—this is forbidden. For crying out loud, my folks work as private detectives. I’ve witnessed affairs my entire life. I am one of the few who can truly know better than this.

Even still, she was powerless to ignore the “inevitable chemistry” they shared from the start. Shelton separated from his wife Kaynette Williams a year later and went after Lambert.

Shelton asked Lambert to marry him in 2010, but he did so in remembrance of her father. The “God’s Country” singer gave Lambert’s father a call to get his OK before proposing on May 9 and bringing out a platinum and diamond ring that he had personally picked out.

“It’s so much more perfect than I could have picked myself, but we’ve been together for five years, so he knew exactly what I wanted,” Lambert remarked. The country music artist cherished the casual party that was the proposal.

Apart from that specific instance, 2010 was an exceptional year for Lambert, as she achieved her first number one song, “White Liar,” in January and won both Album of the Year and Top Female Vocalist at the ACM Awards.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton at LP Field during the 2010 CMA Music Festival on June 13, 2010 in Nashville, Tennessee. | Source: Getty Images

The pair married in 2011, but problems soon arose in their union. Rumors of a breakup surfaced in 2013, which the couple refuted.

In order to demonstrate that there were no secrets in their marriage, the “The Voice” judge at the time said that his wife had access to his phone anytime she wanted. He declared:

We truly do have that level of trust. Nothing is hidden. “Go search through my drawers or my computer if you feel like it,” is what I’ll say, and it’s been extremely helpful since I don’t want her to ever question anything.

Even though there were still rumors in 2014, the pair didn’t seem to be affected and even made jokes about the supposed divorce. In the past two years, Lambert joked, “I think I’ve had like five sets of twins and we’ve been divorced four times, and one of us had a $100 million divorce.”

Shelton and Stefani were married in a modest chapel on the “Home” singer’s property in July 2021 in a private ceremony held in Oklahoma.
The pair sent heartfelt wishes on social media to commemorate their third wedding anniversary the same year.

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton during the 45th Annual Academy of Country Music Awards concerts at the Fremont Street Experience during the on April 17, 2010 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images

Lambert acknowledged that marriage was difficult, but he also stated it was a wonderful gift that shouldn’t be taken too seriously. She continued, saying:

It is our constant goal to be together. On our anniversary, I wouldn’t want to be on the other side of the nation! That moment is precious.

However, the pair soon shown that there was turmoil in paradise, proving the claims to be real. Gwen Stefani collaborated with Shelton as a coach on season nine of “The Voice” in April 2014.

After four years together, Shelton and Lambert announced their divorce within a year. They said in a statement that was released:

We are actual individuals with actual lives, families, friends, and coworkers. As a result, we respectfully request your understanding and privacy in this very private situation.

The couple disclosed that they were surprised by the split and that they had to take a risk by choosing to continue living their lives on their own.

Both before and after the publishing of the statement, Shelton and Lambert said nothing about the matter. They had ten wonderful years together, including their courtship phase.

LIFE AFTER PARTNERSHIP

Shelton quickly started dating Gwen Stefani, his co-star on “The Voice,” following their breakup. On November 4, 2015, they made their relationship official via Shelton’s agent, who stated:

“Gwen and Blake have been friends for a long time, but they recently started dating.”

Gwen Stefani, Adam Levine, Pharrell Williams, and Blake Shelton during "The Voice" Season 7. | Source: Getty Images

The couple claimed that their congruent divorces and life events strengthened their bond.

Shelton eventually told Lambert about his divorce in 2020. Details regarding their breakup were disclosed in his song “If I’m Honest.”

He answered, “Maybe not specifics.” However, you get the gist of it. It is my chronicle of divorce, but perhaps even more than that, it is also my record of happiness and infatuation.

He’s got to admit that his second divorce has devastated him to the point of no return. Even though Shelton did not create the song “She’s Got a Way With Words,” which describes a partner who strayed and lied, he isn’t stopping people from believing it was a reflection of his own relationship. He declared:

“You have to let go of it when you’re feeling down, or at least that’s how I feel. You want to be able to relate to other individuals. I was in the midst of hell, at my lowest point.

But there was also someone who understood him quite well. It was a day he will never forget. “Gwen, who I didn’t really know, had these enormous tears in her eyes when I looked at her. It struck me, “Wow, she really feels bad for me.”

Miranda Lambert and Brendan McLoughlin during the 54th Academy Of Country Music Awards at MGM Grand Garden Arena on April 07, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images

The singer of “Candyman” had recently filed for divorce from Gavin Rossdale, her husband of 20 years. Later, she spoke with Shelton by herself, and that’s when their close relationship began.

As time went on, their friendship grew; they went from communicating their understanding to exchanging emails once a week. He declared:

“Then I wake up, and she’s my entire world, and I wonder if she feels the same way about me.”

Shelton and Stefani were married in a modest chapel on the “Home” singer’s property in July 2021 in a private ceremony held in Oklahoma. Luckily, Stefani’s family and kids adore her new husband and have a wonderful impact on her. Says she:

“I’ve never had a more feminine style. I think it’s because I have a pretty macho man and I’m genuinely in love. Now that I’ve let that side of myself show, I enjoy it.

Within three months of their first date, Lambert also wed Brendan McLoughlin, an officer in New York City. Even though he was married when they initially met, their love remained. It was made public in 2022 that the couple was attempting to conceive.

My Husband Bragged about Buying Me Expensive Earrings When I Bought Them Myself, So I Gave Him a Reality Check

When Samantha reaches a huge milestone at work, she decides to celebrate the moment by treating herself to something expensive—a pair of diamond earrings. But when she and her husband are with their friends, and Ross takes full credit for it, she wants nothing more than to embarrass him. Will she do it? And more importantly, will she regret it?

I’ve always thought of myself as being an independent woman. Even when I got married to Ross—I knew that I needed to have my own sense of independence in some way. Which is how I threw myself into my career.

A woman wearing a blazer | Source: Pexels

A woman wearing a blazer | Source: Pexels

I work for a fashion house, writing content and making our catalogs look great. Recently, work has been going really well, and I received a promotion.

“Well done, Samantha!” my boss gushed. “You’re the person who takes our vision and translates it to the public. It’s a gift.”

Of course, I loved my job so it felt like the biggest reward to be acknowledged for my work.

A woman writing in a notebook | Source: Unsplash

A woman writing in a notebook | Source: Unsplash

I celebrated my promotion by spoiling myself.

“What do you want to get for yourself?” my work colleague, Carol, asked me during our lunch.

“I don’t know,” I said, drizzling dressing all over my salad. “I don’t own anything incredibly fancy. So, I’m thinking jewelry.”

A plate of salad on a table | Source: Unsplash

A plate of salad on a table | Source: Unsplash

Carol and I went to the jewelry store across from the café we had lunch.

“Let’s just look around,” Carol said.

A display at a jewelry store | Source: Unsplash

A display at a jewelry store | Source: Unsplash

We walked around the store and I looked through the glass displays, waiting for something to catch my eyes. Which was when I saw them—a pair of exquisite diamond earrings.

“That’s the one,” I said.

The woman behind the display beamed at me.

“This is going to complement your eyes,” she said, putting the earrings into a beautiful velvet box.

A pair of diamond earrings | Source: Pexels

A pair of diamond earrings | Source: Pexels

That evening when I got home from work, I took the box out, ready to show Ross the symbol of my hard-earned achievement at work.

“That looks expensive,” Ross said, piling pasta onto plates for us. “Was it?”

“It was,” I agreed. “But I wanted to treat myself. I’ve been working really hard at work, so this is the reward I decided on.”

“You have been,” Ross agreed. “It’s good to spoil yourself sometimes.”

A man in the kitchen | Source: Unsplash

A man in the kitchen | Source: Unsplash

I knew that my husband was trying to be proud of me—but he didn’t like when I was able to spoil myself. He had never actually said it, but it always showed in his reactions.

Later as we got ready for bed, the dim glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room as I fiddled with the edge of the duvet, avoiding Ross’s gaze.

I felt a sense of tension between us, the air thick with unspoken words.

A woman sitting on the bed | Source: Pexels

A woman sitting on the bed | Source: Pexels

Ross had been quiet for the rest of the dinner, his responses clipped, smiles forced. I noticed it, of course, but I didn’t want to draw any attention to his mood. I just felt horrible that Ross felt a certain way about me treating myself.

“Ross,” I said as he got into bed with his laptop in hand. “I know you think these earrings are too much, but it’s just that—”

“No, Sam,” he said. “It’s fine. It’s just that sometimes I feel bad that you have to buy these things for yourself. I feel like I should spoil you, too.”

A man sitting on the bed with his laptop | Source: Pexels

A man sitting on the bed with his laptop | Source: Pexels

We spoke for a few hours after that, and I tried to reassure my husband that everything was fine—I didn’t want us to get into a fight over something that didn’t need to become one.

We were good. Other than this, Ross and I were absolutely fine.

We spent the rest of the week meeting each other during the work day for coffee. Just to check in with each other during the day.

A couple sitting together and drinking coffee | Source: Pexels

A couple sitting together and drinking coffee | Source: Pexels

But then, the weekend rolled around and Ross’s behavior shocked me.

We had a group of really good friends that we saw regularly. The whole group tried to meet for drinks or a meal at least every two weeks.

So, this weekend we planned on doing lunch at a new restaurant.

An interior of a restaurant | Source: Unsplash

An interior of a restaurant | Source: Unsplash

We all sat around the table, with everyone breaking away to talk about their own things.

“Your earrings are stunning,” our friend, Macy, said. “Where did you get them?”

Before I could reply, Ross began to tell his own story of the earrings.

Women sitting together and laughing | Source: Pexels

Women sitting together and laughing | Source: Pexels

“I got them from the store here,” he said, gesturing in the direction of the jewelry store.

“Oh! I’ve seen it,” Macy retorted. “But I haven’t been inside.”

“Yeah, I just felt that Samantha needed to be spoiled a bit. She’s been working so hard lately. So, I surprised her with the earrings and her favorite chocolate,” Ross said.

A box of chocolate | Source: Pexels

A box of chocolate | Source: Pexels

There were a few pats on his back from some of the guys. And the ladies gushed over how sweet my husband apparently was.

“Don,” Macy said to her husband. “You could learn a thing or two from Ross.”

I sat there, looking at my cocktail, feeling utterly betrayed. Earlier that week Ross had looked like a sad puppy because I had done something for myself.

And now?

A cocktail with a black straw | Source: Pexels

A cocktail with a black straw | Source: Pexels

Here he was, sitting with our friend group and taking advantage of the fact that I had not spoken up and told everyone the truth.

But could I? If I said anything, Ross would be nothing but embarrassed.

“I mean,” he continued. “I was spoiled for choice! There were so many options, but I settled on these because Sam just feels like a diamond girl. They cost a fortune!”

A man sitting and smiling at the camera | Source: Pexels

A man sitting and smiling at the camera | Source: Pexels

Our food arrived and I dug into my prawns in silence. I didn’t mind that Ross wanted to be included in the story. But it bugged me that he had taken over it.

The whole reason for these earrings was for me to prove to myself that I was good at my job and worthy of good things—material things that I could provide for myself.

But Ross’s lie gnawed away at me for the entire meal.

Prawns and noodles in a plate | Source: Pexels

Prawns and noodles in a plate | Source: Pexels

As we paid and left the restaurant, I made sure to walk past the jewelry store. I wasn’t going to point it out, but I knew Macy would.

Macy was the type of person that if someone had something fancy, then she would shortly have her own—after persuading her husband to buy it for her.

“Hey!” she exclaimed. “This is the store, right?”

I nodded and allowed myself to be dragged inside the door.

A jewelry store display | Source: Unsplash

A jewelry store display | Source: Unsplash

“Mrs. Carter,” the woman behind the counter called out. “Back so soon?”

It was as if something came undone in that moment. And I found myself wanting to get back at Ross.

“Yes!” I said. “I wanted to see what else you have. Rings, maybe?”

She beamed and called for Macy and I to meet her at a counter—our husbands were behind us, eyeing the jewelry and the prices attached to it.

“Would I be able to exchange something?” I asked the woman.

A diamond ring display | Source: Pexels

A diamond ring display | Source: Pexels

She nodded slowly, eyeing the earrings that I was wearing.

“We do accept returns and exchanges,” she said. “Provided that there’s proof of payment and the quality of the item has not been tarnished in any way.”

“You want to return your earrings?” Macy asked, wrinkling her nose.

“Well, I’m looking at this ring,” I said, pointing to a gorgeous ring in the display. “It’s stunning, but the earrings just won’t go with them.”

A woman holding a diamond ring | Source: Pexels

A woman holding a diamond ring | Source: Pexels

My husband stepped forward and put his arm around me, while holding onto his wallet.

“But you love the earrings, Sam,” he said. “Why don’t you just keep them and think about it.”

“No,” I said stubbornly. “I think I’d like the ring better.”

“You’ll have to give me your details,” the woman said from behind the counter.

Ross gave his full name—knowing full well that nothing would show up. Because he did not buy my earrings, and I wanted to embarrass him.

A man holding a wallet | Source: Pexels

A man holding a wallet | Source: Pexels

“I’m sorry, Sir,” she said. “But there are no purchases under your name here.”

“Really?” Ross asked sheepishly. “That’s a problem.”

“I’m so sure it’s under Mrs. Carter’s details,” she continued. “The earrings were purchased on her card.”

My husband’s face turned red in embarrassment. He didn’t meet my eye—knowing that I was upset with how he had downplayed my involvement in the earrings.

A man turned away from the camera | Source: Pexels

A man turned away from the camera | Source: Pexels

“It’s right here,” she said, looking at her computer. “Do you really want to return them, Mrs. Carter? Like I said the day you purchased them, they really suit your eyes.”

In the end, I declined wanting to switch my earrings for the ring. I had no intention of doing so—I just wanted to teach Ross a lesson.

Macy and Don looked at each other, and I knew that they were judging us. But I didn’t care, Macy was a material girl and would forget about the whole thing once Don bought her a pair of earrings, too.

A woman wearing red | Source: Pexels

A woman wearing red | Source: Pexels

The car ride home was enveloped in a profound silence.

Ross seemed to shrink beside me, his earlier bravado having dissolved into quiet reflection.

That evening, he shared his insecurities, confessing that his lie was an ill-conceived attempt to share in my accomplishments.

My emotions were mixed—relief at his honesty and acknowledgment of what he had done.

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Pexels

A man sitting on a couch | Source: Pexels

But my relief was also tinged with sorrow—I hated that my husband felt the need to compete.

The next day, Ross left home claiming that he had an errand to run. When he returned, I was reading a book, waiting for him to get back.

“Where have you been?” I asked him.

Ross just smiled at me and handed me a gift box.

A woman reading a book | Source: Pexels

A woman reading a book | Source: Pexels

“I’m sorry for dismissing your feelings,” he said. “This is to match your earrings.”

Inside the gift bag was a beautiful diamond necklace.

“I didn’t mean to outshine you,” he confessed. “You earned them by yourself. I just felt guilty that I haven’t been able to spoil you in the way you should be spoiled, Sam.”

The gift was a heartfelt gesture, and while a part of me wanted to return it—I knew that if I did so, I would hurt his feelings even more.

The previous day, when I had wanted to embarrass him—it wasn’t to hurt him. It was just to feel seen.

And after we spoke about it—I think we’re finally on the same page.

A gift box with a bow | Source: Pexels

A gift box with a bow | Source: Pexels

What would you have done?

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