In a surprising revelation that has intrigued country music fans, Blake Shelton recently shared that he was the original artist to record the now-iconic country-rap anthem “I Wanna Talk About Me”, a song that eventually became a No. 1 hit for Toby Keith in 2001.
During a candid interview, Blake admitted that early in his career, the song was pitched to him by renowned producer Scott Hendricks, who thought it would be a fun and bold debut for Shelton’s introduction to mainstream country radio. Blake recorded the track and was ready to roll with it — until his label got cold feet.
“They told me it was just too risky, too edgy — especially for a new artist,” Blake explained. “They were afraid that radio wouldn’t get behind it. So, it was shelved.”
That decision, as it turns out, opened the door for Toby Keith, who embraced the song’s blend of humor, swagger, and unconventional delivery. Toby’s version of “I Wanna Talk About Me” became a runaway success, topping the country charts and further cementing his reputation as a genre-bending rebel unafraid to ruffle a few feathers.
For Blake, there are no hard feelings — only admiration.
“I think Toby did exactly what that song needed,” Blake said. “He brought that attitude, that confidence. It was a perfect fit for him.”
The revelation is a fascinating “what could’ve been” moment in country music history. Fans have since called for Blake to release his original demo version, though it remains unreleased to the public.
“I Wanna Talk About Me” went on to become one of Toby Keith’s signature hits, blending country twang with rhythmic spoken-word verses in a way that predated the rise of country-rap crossovers by nearly a decade. And now, thanks to Blake’s honesty, we know that the road to that hit included a surprising stop — with a young Blake Shelton, just waiting to be heard.
One song. Two stars. And a twist in the story no one saw coming.