Post Malone, the multi-platinum rapper-turned-country singer, recently revealed a surprising revelation to Blake Shelton: he believes Shelton's 2001 debut single, "Austin," was written about him.
The two stars were working on their new track, "Pour Me a Drink," for Post Malone's upcoming country album, *F-1 Trillion*, when Malone shared his belief. "Post's real name is Austin, and he told me that when he was a kid, his mom told him that that song was written about him," Shelton told *American Songwriter*. "That's what he told me, and he said he believed it."
According to Shelton, Malone's mother was a fan of country music, while his father preferred rock, which explains how the hip-hop star came to embrace both genres.
The chorus of "Austin" features Shelton singing in the voice of his former girlfriend, crooning, "And by the way, boy, this is no machine your talkinâ to/ Canât you tell, this is Austin, and I still love you."
It's unclear whether Post Malone's mom truly believed the song was about him, but the story highlights the unique bond the two artists share.
"Pour Me a Drink" is a lively, party-anthem about drowning sorrows and having a good time with friends. Shelton sings, "Guess I really went and messed it up again/ Now, my babyâs goner than the Tulsa wind/ Judginâ by the stone-sober state Iâm in/ Need to crack one wide open." Malone joins in the chorus with, "Somebody pour me a drink, somebody bum me a smoke/ Iâm âbout to get on a buzz, Iâm âbout to get on a roll."
Shelton spoke highly of his experience collaborating with Malone, stating, "I didn't [understand his success] because at the end of the day, I just, for whatever reason, he asked me to do itâIâm proud." He continued, "Iâm proud of that record. Iâm proud to have worked with him. I think heâs an incredibly talented guy. Now that Iâve spent some time with him, itâs no mystery to me that heâs as huge as he is as an artist and successful as he is because heâs just somebody that you just love being around. Heâs just so much fun."
Malone's *F-1 Trillion
is set to release on August 16th and boasts a star-studded lineup of collaborators. The album features collaborations with country music icons like Dolly Parton, Morgan Wallen, Tim McGraw, Brad Paisley, Lainey Wilson, ERNEST, Chris Stapleton, and Billy Strings, as well as Hank Williams Jr., Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Sierra Ferrell.
Post Malone has recently previewed several tracks from the album, including his collaborations with HARDY and Sierra Ferrell, at his Bud Light "A Night in Nashville" show.
Fans can look forward to the release of *F-1 Trillion
on August 16th and the unique blend of country and hip-hop sounds that Post Malone brings to the table.