Singers Blake Shelton and Paul McCartney are celebrating their birthdays today.
Blake Shelton, 38
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Country music singer and television personality Blake Shelton turns 38 today. In 2001, he made his debut with the single "Austin" from his self-titled debut album. The single spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and the album was certified gold, and produced two more Top 20 hits.
Blake's second and third albums, The Dreamer and Blake Shelton's Barn & Grill, were each certified gold. His fourth album, Pure BS, was re-issued in 2008 with a cover of Michael Bublé's pop hit "Home" as a bonus tracks. His fifth album, Startin' Fires, was released in November 2008, Red River Blue in 2011 and Based on a True Story… in 2013. Overall, Blake Shelton has charted 24 country singles, including 11 No. 1 singles. He is also a five time Grammy Award nominee.
Shelton is also known for his role as a judge on the reality competitions Nashville Star, Clash of the Choirs and The Voice. His team has won The Voice three out of the five seasons. He is currently married to country singer Miranda Lambert.
Sir Paul McCartney, 72
image courtesy of Curtis Means/ACE/INFphoto.com
Musician, singer, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer Sir Paul McCartney turns 72 today. McCartney gained worldwide fame as a member of the Beatles, alongside John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr, which is widely regarded as one of the most popular and influential acts in the history of rock music. After the band's break-up, he pursued a solo career and later formed Wings with his first wife, Linda, and Denny Laine.
McCartney has 60 gold discs and sales of over 100 million albums and 100 million singles of his work with the Beatles and as a solo artist. McCartney was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist in March 1999, and has written, or co-written, 32 songs that have reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. As of 2014, he has sold more than 15.5 million RIAA-certified units in the United States. McCartney, Lennon, Harrison and Starr all received Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1965, and in 1997, McCartney was knighted for his services to music.
McCartney has taken part in projects to promote international charities related to such subjects as animal rights, seal hunting, landmines, vegetarianism, poverty, and music education. He was married three times and has five children.