The studio audience of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon erupted in laughter when host Jimmy Fallon leveraged his power to force the ultimate culinary confrontation: convincing “country boy” Blake Shelton to try raw sushi for the very first time. Shelton’s genuinely grimacing expression, followed by his brutally honest comparison of the raw tuna to a “human tongue,” stole the hearts of the audience and instantly became a viral moment. The entire studio erupted in laughter when Jimmy Fallon forced “country boy” Blake Shelton to try raw sushi for the first time at a fancy restaurant, and Blake’s grimacing expression, comparing the tuna to a “human tongue,” stole the hearts of the audience!
The Challenge: A Palate Intervention
The hilarious segment, which aired in 2017, was framed by Fallon as a necessary “intervention” for Shelton, who, despite his massive success and globe-trotting career, maintained a proudly simple and staunchly anti-raw-fish diet. Shelton, known for his love of BBQ, burgers, and comfort food, had long resisted the trend of sophisticated cuisine. To ensure the highest stakes, Fallon brought Shelton to a highly-regarded Japanese restaurant in New York City. The challenge was simple: Shelton had to close his eyes, trust Fallon, and try two types of sushi.
The Verdict: Raw Tuna and the “Human Tongue”
The first piece of sushi was a simple tuna (maguro) nigiri. As Fallon carefully guided the raw fish toward Shelton’s mouth, the country star’s face contorted in anticipation and dread. The moment he bit down, his reaction was priceless—a silent, intense grimace followed by frantic chewing. When asked for his immediate feedback, Shelton delivered the line that secured the moment’s legendary status. Blake Shelton’s first-ever sushi meltdown—Jimmy Fallon forces the “Country Boy” to try raw tuna, and his horrified “Human Tongue” reaction sends the studio into chaos.
The Quote: “It’s fine, but it’s like a human tongue is in my mouth! It’s cold and slimy, and… oh God!”
Fallon collapsed into laughter, along with the entire audience, at the hilariously gross, yet perfectly country, comparison. Shelton then tried a second piece—a salmon nigiri—which he only slightly preferred, concluding that the entire experience proved he’d rather stick to his culinary comfort zone.
A Country Star’s Unwavering Roots
The segment perfectly played into the enduring public persona of Blake Shelton, the down-to-earth Oklahoman who became a fixture of country music and reality television. The Voice Tenure: Shelton’s fame, which allowed for this high-profile segment, was significantly boosted by his long tenure as a coach on The Voice, a role he held from the show’s inception in 2011 until 2023. His consistent presence on the show cemented his status as the “good ol’ boy” of network television. Data Point: During his time on The Voice, Blake Shelton led a contestant to victory nine times, making him the coach with the most wins in the show’s history, showcasing his ability to connect with talent. The Shelton-Fallon Bromance: This culinary challenge was just one example of the popular, ongoing banter between Shelton and Fallon, who often use The Tonight Show as a platform for silly games and pranks that underscore Shelton’s resistance to big-city sophistication. The sight of one of country music’s biggest stars recoiling from a piece of raw fish proved that fame and fortune haven’t changed the simple palate of the Oklahoma native, earning him a huge wave of affection from his loyal audience.