Young Blake Shelton Sings His Debut Single “Austin”
Country Road TV / YouTube
“Austin” Was The First Single Blake Shelton Released, And Became His First #1 Hit Too
It’s hard to imagine it now. But at one time, Blake Shelton wasn’t one of the biggest names in country music. Now, he has over 20 number one hits and a reputation as one of the most successful artists in the genre’s history.
Shelton’s extraordinary career got its start with a little love song called “Austin.”
Released in 2001, “Austin” was Shelton’s debut single. The song tells the story of a woman who lives in Austin, and she tries to call a former flame. She ends up getting his answering machine. Then, she hears him say on his message, “and P.S. if this is Austin, I still love you.”
Take A Trip Back To Win “Austin” Debuted In 2001
The song’s heart-tugging lyrics and Shelton’s powerful delivery ensured “Austin” would be a major hit. “Austin” allowed Shelton to make his mark on country music from the get-go, since it snagged the number one spot on the Billboard country chart.
It experienced additional success on the all-genre Billboard Hot 100. The song snuck into the Top 20 to rest comfortably at the 18th position.
Shelton continues to perform “Austin” during his shows today. But one of our favorite performances of his comes from the past.
A clip of a young Shelton singing “Austin” resurfaced online a few years ago. We can tell the performance took place in the early stage of Shelton’s career, back when he had his mullet.
Shelton delivered an intimate performance of his breakout hit. A small group of spectators, including Vince Gill, listened to him sing.
He had nothing but his own acoustic guitar to back him up. The true definition of an “unplugged” performance.
Blake Shelton Continues To Sing “Austin” Today
The stripped-down arrangement gave Shelton the chance to showcase the depths of his talent. His small audience appeared captivated by his singing. At least one person’s jaw actually dropped in awe.
You’re sure to be equally enchanted by Shelton’s acoustic performance of “Austin.” No wonder why the young man in this video is now one of country music’s biggest stars.
“Austin” turned 20 years old in 2021. Shelton celebrated by performing the song live during the ACM Awards that year. Watch that more recent performance below.
