Before Blake Shelton became a country superstar and a coach on The Voice, his music career almost ended before it even began—because of childhood beauty pageants. Growing up in Ada, Oklahoma, Shelton didn’t start performing in bars or music venues, but in school pageants, thanks to his mother, Dorothy Shackleford, who wanted to showcase his talent.

However, being the only boy on stage, surrounded by girls in gowns and tiaras, left young Blake feeling embarrassed and out of place. He sang rock songs like Bob Seger’s Old Time Rock and Roll and Ted Nugent’s Cat Scratch Fever, not realizing the lyrics might be inappropriate. “We just thought it was about a cat scratching someone,” he joked in a recent interview.

Still, the discomfort made him question if music was right for him, and he stopped performing altogether for a while. That changed when he was around 12 or 13. Shelton started singing again—this time in local country showcases, where he felt more at home. With his mom driving him to events, he began covering artists like Travis Tritt and the Kentucky Headhunters, slowly building his confidence and finding his voice.