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Miranda Lambert or Gwen Stefani: Who’s The Muse Of Blake Shelton’s “I’ll Name The Dogs”?

Blake Shelton's "I'll Name The Dogs"
by
  • Arden is a Senior Country Music Journalist for Country Thang Daily, specializing in classic hits and contemporary chart-toppers.
  • Prior to joining Country Thang Daily, Arden wrote for Billboard and People magazine, covering country music legends and emerging artists.
  • Arden holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Tennessee, with a minor in Music Studies.

Question: For who is Blake Shelton’s “I’ll Name The Dogs” written for?

Fans have a lot of speculation for Blake Shelton‘s hit song as the song talks about settling down for good. It’s not a secret that Shelton was once married to country music star Miranda Lambert. Their romance was highly loved by their fans, and their marriage back in 2011 was celebrated. Sadly, the couple announced their divorce in July 2015.

When the hit song was first released in 2017, netizens debated on social media over the possibility that it was about Miranda Lambert because she’s known as a dog lover. Meanwhile, some listeners argued that it might be for Gwen Stefani, Shelton’s current girlfriend. The Voice co-stars were revealed to be dating in November 2015 by his reps, a few months after his divorce.

So who is it for?

Real Story of “I’ll Name The Dogs”

Here’s the answer: None of the above.

Because of its theme of settling down, it’s not surprising that fans have linked the past and present of the famous country crooner. However, the real inspiration came from one of the song’s songwriter’s dilemma, which is coming up with a name for his future son.

Songwriters Ben Hayslip, Josh Thompson, and Matt Dragstrem were brainstorming for the name of Thompson’s child. But what they found amidst their idea session was a killer hook for a country hit. 

“I’ll Name The Dogs” is an ode of domestic bliss, which is apparent in each verse and accompaniment. It’s a traditional country jam with steel and fiddle that takes you on a throwback. What’s more, the song’s chart reached number one both in Canada Billboard Country and US Billboard Country Airplay from 2017 to 2018.

Songwriter Hayslip even mentioned that they won’t write any Blake Shelton songs that the singer won’t even say in real life. He elaborated that the country music star is a high-profile guy that they’ll only write what the current situation he’s in. The songwriters will never put Shelton in a bad light, that’s for sure.

The bright side of this hit song is the fun and energetic yet romantic music video which won both Male Video of the Year and Video of the Year at the CMT Music Awards in 2018.

Check out Blake Shelton’s “I’ll Name The Dogs” music video below.

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