Being a coach on “The Voice” is paying off for BLAKE SHELTON.  He just scored his first ever #1 album with “Red River Blue”.  The album sold 116,000 copies in its first week of release.

–Blake’s album was one of six new debuts in the “Billboard” Top 10 this week.  Chris Youngs new Album NEON debuted at #4

1.)  (NEW)  “Red River Blue”, Blake Shelton  (116,000 copies)

4.)  (NEW)  “Neon”, Chris Young  (73,000 copies)

We’ve seen videos of Marines asking stars on dates, so here’s the inevitable video of a Marine asking out a country star.

–Her name is Nicole McCoy and she wants LUKE BRYAN to accompany her to the Marine Corps Ball in Albany, Georgia.  (–No word yet from Luke, but I’m thinking it’s a long shot.  He’s married with two kids.)

MONTGOMERY GENTRY will be performing at the first-ever USO Homefront Concert.  It’s for military families and volunteers and it’s going down next Tuesday in Louisville, Kentucky.  The concert will also air on the Pentagon Channel and the Armed Forces Network.

DWIGHT YOAKAM has brought in alt-rock superstar BECK to help him with his next album.  No word on a release date.