Blake Shelton Calls His Tattoo “One of the Worst Mistakes of My Life” — and Fans Can’t Stop Laughing at the Story Behind It.LC
Even country stars make questionable choices after a few drinks — and Blake Shelton is the first to admit it. The God’s Country singer recently reflected on one of the most infamous tattoos in country music history: the mysterious pattern of shapes wrapped in barbed wire on his left forearm.
Originally intended to be a tribute to his love of hunting, the tattoo has instead become a running joke among fans — and now, even Blake himself. “What was meant to be deer tracks wrapped in barbed wire turned into what looks like Sugar Smacks or coffee beans,” he told CMT with a grin. “I got this tattoo about 20 years ago and decided it was, in the moment, one of the worst mistakes of my life, and I’m never doing that again.”
Shelton says the design came to life during a spontaneous night in 2005, after a few too many drinks. “It seemed like a good idea at the time,” he admitted, laughing. “But when I sobered up and looked at it, I thought, ‘What the hell did I just do?’”
Fans have teased him about it for years, and Shelton’s good humor has only added to the legend. From late-night talk shows to award ceremonies, he’s often poked fun at himself — even inviting audience members to guess what the tattoo is supposed to be. “Nobody ever gets it right,” he’s said. “That’s probably because it doesn’t look like anything in nature.”
Despite his self-deprecating jokes, the tattoo has taken on a kind of iconic status among his fans — a reminder that even megastars aren’t immune to the occasional bad decision. “It’s part of me now,” Shelton said. “Every time I look at it, I remember not to make big choices when I’ve been drinking.”
For someone who has built his career on honesty and humor, the story fits perfectly. Blake Shelton has always been known for keeping things real, whether it’s sharing stories about ranch life in Oklahoma, his love for wife Gwen Stefani, or his own mistakes.
“I’ve made a lot of bad decisions in my life,” he joked, “but this one’s right there near the top.”
Now, nearly two decades later, the infamous “deer track” tattoo has gone from regrettable ink to part of his legend — a funny, humanizing mark that reminds fans that even the biggest country stars have their share of “What was I thinking?” moments.
