Usually, music tends to have a healing quality with people. Oftentimes, it's a feeling of catharsis, to hear an artist express a feeling that you might be grappling with yourself. To know someone out there understands any pain or grief you experience feels like a weight is being lifted off of your shoulders. Similarly, a song might have the sort of uplifting energy to drag you from the pits of despair and into the light. However, apparently, Blake Shelton has a song so devastating that it made one label executive suffer a heart attack.
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Recently, Shelton released "Let Him in Anyway," a record from his upcoming album For Recreational Use Only. It's a pretty heavy listen, where Blake copes with loss and the grief of his best friend. Additionally, he tries to bargain with God through prayer to let his friend into heaven. Safe to say, Blake's wife Gwen Stefani is a fan, considering she cried the first time she heard it. However, it affected someone at his label even more.
Blake Shelton's Song Causes Label Executive to Have a Heart Attack
Frontline Recordings President in North America Jon Loba speaks with American Songwriter about hearing Shelton's song for the first time. Chris Oglesby, the VP at BBR Music Group, hears the song from his signee and the waterworks immediately come. He had already been going through some turbulence in his personal life. Chris had just gave a eulogy for his brother-in-law. Additionally, his sister has strong Christian faith but there were worries that her husband didn't and wouldn't make it to heaven. Consequently, Blake Shelton's song came at just the right time.
Hearing "Let Him in Anyway" makes Oglesby weep uncontrollably, to the point where he excuses himself. Later, Loba plays it for someone else dealing with similar issues. Then, Chris walks in again to listen. But he leaves again in an emotional rush. BBR Music Group General Manager Peter Strickland tells Loba later that Oglesby drove himself to the hospital after hearing the Blake Shelton song again. The song tipped him over the edge and into a heart attack.
"They put two stents in, and they waited two weeks and put two more stents in." Loba explains. "Luckily, not too far over the edge. The good news now is he's in great shape and feels better than ever." Apparently, Oglesby had small heart flutters earlier in the week but he claims the emotion of Blake Shelton's song pushed him over the edge. Thankfully, he's recovering now.
