Blake Shelton
Blake Shelton and Judd Leffew of "Cowboy U", at Backstage Creations-Talent Retreat (Photo by Mark Sullivan/WireImage for Backstage Creations)

Blake Shelton Reveals the Real Reason He Ditched His Mullet Early in His Career

Blake Shelton's hair was all business in the front and a party in the back in the early 2000s. So why did he part with his mullet?

If you've been a Blake Shelton fan since the beginning, then you definitely remember the sweet mullet he had underneath his cowboy hat. 

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That's right. Before the "She Wouldn't Be Gone" artist achieved worldwide stardom as a coach on The Voice, he was all business in the front and sported a party in the back. 

While the mullet is making a comeback thanks to country music up-and-comers like Ian Munsick, it's doubtful that Shelton will return to the hairstyle that launched his career anytime soon. 

The singer shared why he ditched his long locks for a cleaner cut on a recent episode of BobbyCast with Bobby Bones.

Blake Shelton Said Mullets Weren't Cool at the Time

Since Shelton is currently between projects, Bones thought it would be nice to visit the singer and just talk. The host began with some "softball" questions. 

He figured that Shelton was asked about his mullet all the time. Still, Shelton opened up about the real reason he trimmed his hair. 

"I had that for the better part of my teenage years and on into my twenties, but I really only had the actual mullet for the release of my first single, which was in 2001," said Shelton.

But around that time, Shelton said everyone from Tracy Lawrence to Alan Jackson was taking a razor to their locks. 

"At the time, I didn't realize that — mullets are cool again now, I guess. But back then, when I had them, they weren't cool anymore, you know. It was like that phase had already ran out and no one told me. So, my first single came out with a video, and there I was with a mullet."

It Was a DJ That Inspired the Change

Shelton went on to say that listening to a morning DJ in Nashville inspired him to make the change. 

"I'd be in my truck driving, and he would play my song," he said. "'Oh, there's the worst new mullet in country music,' you know? And so, I started thinking, 'Well, I got to do something about this.'" 

So Shelton ditched his mullet... sort of.

"But I was stubborn enough that I thought, 'OK...I'm not going to let him tell me to cut my mullet, but I will grow out the rest of my hair and just have all long hair,' you know? So, that way, they didn't win. I didn't cut my mullet. I just grew the rest of it out to go with it."

While we miss his long hair, chances are that Shelton wouldn't have the career he has now if he kept it. But for those of you who want to relive the glory days of Shelton's mullet, watch the video for "Austin" below.