The tea is overflowing in the country music world, and it has nothing to do with any new singles or tracks. News that Miranda Lambert is allegedly dating still-married musician Evan Felker has sent fans into an emotional tailspin, and everyone is commenting on it; even Lambert’s ex-husband, Blake Shelton.

Since Shelton is now very publicly dating pop star and The Voice coach Gwen Stefani, many folks were puzzled by the shady tweet that he posted which seemed to reference Lambert’s new relationship. However, if we rewind back to Lambert and Shelton’s romance and the demise of their marriage, we think we know the real reason they fell apart.

A really shady tweet

Blake recently tweeted out this shady comment. | Blake Shelton via Twitter

Recently, reports swirled that Lambert is dating Evan Felker, from the folk group Turnpike Troubadours. Apparently, the duo struck up their romance while Lambert was still dating her ex-beau, Anderson East.

That already seems a bit sticky, but you should also know that Felker is married. He filed for divorce in February 2018 from his wife, Staci Nelson, who he’s been married to for less than two years, it’s all extremely suspicious, especially since Lambert and Nelson are currently on tour together.

When Shelton heard the news, he tweeted, “Been taking the high road for a long time… I almost gave up. But I can finally see something on the horizon up there!! Wait!! Could it be?! Yep!! It’s karma!!”

Next: A very public affair 

A trip down memory lane

Miranda Lambert and Blake Shelton fell in love immediately after meeting. | Rick Diamond/Getty Images

When Lambert and Shelton first met back in 2005, Shelton was married, and Lambert was dating country singer Jeff Allen McManus. However, their status didn’t stop the pair from having a sizzling connection when they sang a duet on CMT 100 Greatest Duets Concert.

In 2011, Lambert told  Dateline, “I knew he was married. I had seen their wedding pictures in Country Weekly. I knew better, like, ‘this is off-limits.’ My parents are private investigators, for God’s sake. I’ve seen this my whole life — affairs, and of all people to know better, I know better than this.”

In his VH1 Behind the Music special, Shelton explained, “I’ve never had that kind of experience with anybody. I was a married guy, you know? Looking back on that, I was falling in love with her, right there on stage.”

It sounds suspect to us.

Next: Trust issues and drama 

Built on rocky ground

The couple worked really hard to make their relationship work. | Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Shelton filed for divorce from Kaynette Williams after three years of marriage in February 2006 and began dating the “Tin Man” singer either soon before or very shortly after that. However, much of the former couple’s first year together was spent apart as Shelton was working on his an album and Lambert was touring.

Lambert told CMT News,

We’ve been through a lot of crap together—a lot of crap—and I think that in the beginning, being apart all the time and going through some really hard times just kind of…I’m glad we got over that hump because we really just get along great. We can make it, being away for weeks at a time. We have arguments on the phone, but five minutes later, we’re saying, “I love you, see you in a week,” whatever it is. We really just are best friends.

That doesn’t exactly sound like bliss.

Next: Fury and fussing 

A volatile bond

They might have romanticized their relationship struggles.  Jason Merritt/Getty Images

Though Lambert and Shelton’s relationship seemed passionate, it didn’t exactly appear to be healthy. When they finally made their red carpet debut as a couple in at the 2007 CMT Music Awards, Shelton said,

Miranda and I have a very interesting relationship. She can get so mad at me that she just wants to punch me in the face, and we’ll say that’s it. Then, 30 minutes later, we’re calling each other and acting like it never happened. I think it’s that we’re both artists, and if I want to see her or she wants to see me, sometimes it just doesn’t work out, and it’s frustrating.

But I think she’s somebody that I’m going to have in my life a long time. She’s one of those few people you meet, and have a connection with and you don’t really fully understand it, but you know it’s a pretty big deal.

Next: Some really unromantic words 

Misery loves company

They were together even when they didn’t feel happy. | Rick Diamond/Getty Images

Looking back, it doesn’t seem that Shelton and Lambert were meant to be. In fact, their rocky start began to fracture them.

The “I Lived It” singer told CMT News, “There were times early on there that — I know that she did and I know that I did, we were just ready to give up on it and walk away from it because there’s nothing easy about having a relationship doing what we do. But we just decided that as miserable as we are together, it’s way more miserable when we’re apart.”

Um, that isn’t exactly romantic.

Next: The strain of being a celebrity 

Being on display

They worked really hard to keep things together. | Christopher Polk/Getty Images

For any celebrity couple, it can be incredibly overwhelming to be on display. But Shelton and Lambert never seemed to adjust. Perhaps it was because they were both in relationships when they initially connected. The pair often made snide comments about the press and tabloids instead of just ignoring them.

In a 2014 interview with 60 Minutes, three years after they were married, Shelton said,

We try so hard to keep people’s focus on what we do and not our marriage. It’s almost impossible to do that, and why open that door any further than it already is open by sitting down and doing interviews together and giving every freakin’ magazine out there a two-sentence quote that’s turned into alien babies… There’s no reason for us to do that.”

Next: History repeating itself

Fast forward to now

The couple had a very publicized divorce. | Christopher Polk/Getty Images

By the time Shelton gave his interview to 60 Minutes in 2014, his marriage to Lambert was virtually over. The duo announced their divorce and its finalization on July 20, 2015. Apparently, too much time apart, big personality differences, and a ton of drama from the beginning contributed to the couple’s downfall. Now, three years later, the drama continues.

After Shelton commented on Lambert’s new relationship, her former beau Jeff Allen McManus chimed in with a now-deleted tweet aimed at Shelton. He said, “You know, I’ve always given you the benefit of the doubt and chalked it up to just being human, But you must be one arrogant SOB to pop off something like this, when I know damn good and well you were cheating on your wife and Miranda was cheating on me when you two started up.”

Meanwhile, Nelson’s father coyly commented on Lambert’s man-stealing reputation. He said, “I don’t like to spread rumors, but I’d say you’re on the right track.”

Messy, messy!

Follow Aramide on Twitter @midnightrami.

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