In June 2024, Blake Whiten’s stripped-down cover of Morgan Wallen’s “I’m The Problem” went viral on social media.
Fast forward two years and Whiten opened shows for Wallen in Pennsylvania and Michigan this summer on the country superstar’s Still The Problem stadium tour, joining Wallen on stage for his 2017 hit “Up Down.”
“That was the first time I’ve ever gotten a little bit emotional at a show,” Whiten tells Billboard of the first time he sang with Wallen. “I think it clicked for me when I was onstage for that last time [singing] ‘Up Down.’ It kind of just hit me, like, ‘OK, we are moving in the right direction.’”
It’s been a whirlwind couple of months for Whiten, who released his Enchntmnt/Warner Records debut album Something to Say in July, sent his first single, “Bet on That,” to country radio, and is now seeing “Bet on That” become his first entry on the Billboard Hot 100, debuting at No. 98.
“To finally be able to say that I’m actually pushing a song on the radio, it’s a pretty huge achievement in my mind. And I’m just happy that I finally got to do it,” he says.
The son of a former preacher, the South Carolina native grew up around music. He soaked in the sounds of country artists like Wallen and HARDY, but also AC/DC, Poison and Tesla. Still, it wasn’t until his late teen years that he realized, “I have this crazy love for music. I could put a song on and it could change my entire day.”
Since he was 16, Whiten, now 22, had been working in construction, but within 48 hours of his version of “I’m the Problem” gaining traction on social media, he packed his bags and booked his first ever flight, headed for Nashville.
On Something to Say, Whiten worked with producer Austin Shawn, known for his work with Bailey Zimmerman (Whiten also co-wrote Zimmerman’s “Holding On,” which reached the top 40 on the Hot Country Songs chart.)
As he sees a chart breakthrough with “Bet on That,” he’s bringing his new music on the road on his headlining Something To Say Tour, which launched Aug. 20.
“I feel like I have a dream, but I feel like I have a pretty good shot at this dream — at least, I hope I do,” Whiten says. “And just working on all these songs over the last two and a half years, getting them written was a crazy experience, meeting all the people and all the songwriters. And then going into the studio and recording these songs, it was an amazing experience and I cannot wait till we get to the next album.”
Whiten, Billboard’s Up-and-Coming Artist of the Month for August, talked to Billboard about the release of his debut album, what he’s learned being on the road with stars like Wallen and Zimmerman, and what he’s passionate about beyond music.
You celebrated your album’s release with a party and concert in your hometown of Six Mile, South Carolina, at a local convenience mart. What did it mean to you to be able to celebrate there?
I’ve always wanted to somehow go back. I wanted to also give back to the community that got me through a lot of the years of my life. We bought gas and food for everybody for a little while, right before the show. I was pumping people’s gas and serving people food at the desk. I was really glad that I could go back and finally give back to the people and all the faces and all the characters that really built me as a person.
When you opened for Morgan’s stadium shows, did you get any advice?
I gathered up with [fellow show opener] Hudson Westbrook before the first time going out there, and was like, “Dude, is there something I should do or something I shouldn’t do?” He was like, “Just don’t get burned by the pyro and you’ll be fine.”
What lessons have you learned from opening for artists like Morgan and Bailey that you’ve applied to your own live shows?
You take something from every artist you watch. Bailey is insane on stage, bouncing around the whole time. Morgan has a lot of energy, but he’s also super chill about it — the dude don’t even break a sweat onstage. I was sweating before I ever got [onstage] for ‘Up Down,’ and you go out and shake his hand and his hand’s completely dry. But you want to get everybody hyped up, make the audience happy, make them cry. I’ve just mainly learned to live in the moment. It’s going to blow right past you, so make sure you live that moment up to its fullest and try to have the best time while you’re up there.
Of the artists you’ve opened for, who had the best catering?
The Morgan tour, they had a ton of options. On Bailey’s tour, they had a different theme every night, and [the theme] Taco Tuesday always came around, so that was probably my favorite.
What is the first album you were obsessed with?
Morgan’s [2018 album] If I Know Me. That’s the first album I actually listened to religiously for a couple of months.
Who is an artist fans maybe wouldn’t guess you are a fan of?
YUNGBLUD.
What is a hobby or subject that fans might not realize you are into?
I don’t do it a lot, but I actually love cooking, and I’m a huge golfer.
What is the best course you’ve played?
There’s a course in Nashville called Nashboro. I love that course, but it’d be really cool to one day get the chance to go out and play one of the PGA Tour courses…Pebble Beach or Augusta would be sick, but the likeliness of actually getting on that is slim to none.
What is one song you wish you had written?
“A Rock” by HARDY — just how he based the entire song off of skipping a rock and then putting a rock on someone’s hand and then putting your name on a rock when you die. It’s so simple, but the thought that goes into it is just so fascinating to me.
