Blake Shelton is reportedly shattered by the loss of his friend and former protege Ryan Whyte Maloney. The former Voice judge befriended Maloney when he joined Shelton’s team on the reality singing series back in 2014. After that, the country star did what he could to help Maloney’s career gain traction. However, all that ended in tragedy when Maloney took his own life in early 2025, leaving his mentor devastated.
Ryan Whyte Maloney died on January 27 after he and his fiance were leaving a gig performing on the Vegas Strip, per Radar Online. According to the report, Blake Shelton’s former pal got into an argument with his partner that led him to do the unthinkable.
During their argument, Maloney allegedly pulled a gun from the vehicle’s compartment and jumped out of the car. His fiance says that she chased him down the road when she heard a shot. He later fired a second shot that took his life.
Shelton was a champion for Maloney during his career. After leaving The Voice, Blake reportedly helped Ryan by giving him a job playing regularly at his Ole Red establishment in order to “help him.”
Blake Shelton Left Shattered By Protege Ryan Whyte Maloney’s Death Tragedy
Shelton is said to have believed in Maloney’s career despite the fact that the aspiring singer’s singles never achieved success. Blake reportedly often gave Ryan “pep talks” over the years. However, he now allegedly wonders if there was something more he could have done to help prevent the tragedy of the singer’s death.
“Blake is kicking himself because he wanted to do more to not only help him be a bigger star but to deal with the pressures that come with a life pursuing the kind of success HE had,” an insider revealed. “He only learned later that Ryan suffered from emotional downturns and had suicidal thoughts for some time, but Ryan never showed that side of himself to Blake.”
Unfortunately, Shelton is no stranger to losing loved ones. In 1990, Blake’s brother, Richie Shelton, tragically died in a car accident along with his girlfriend and her 3-year-old son.
“It was literally like the world went silent. There was a void in my world all of a sudden, and I’m still not over it,” he told Cowboys & Indians in 2018. “I’m just used to it.”
Decades later in 2012, the singer mourned the death of his father after being hospitalized with pneumonia.
Blake Shelton may not have been able to save Ryan Whyte Maloney. However, it appears that he was a great friend to the aspiring singer during his life. Unfortunately, mental health issues aren’t always easy to spot even among friends.
