Orville Peck apparently made some off-field contact with a pro footballer, and fans are pretty sure they know which one he hooked up with.
The out country music star’s fourth studio album Mule came out on Friday, and the vulnerable new songs chronicle his battle with addiction and sobriety.
Peck also discusses his two loves: cowboys and athletes. On the song Ring the Bell, the masked singer casually declares he “love the Lakers, the Mets and the Longhorns” that he “made out with a guy on the Raiders,” Las Vegas’ NFL team.
Speaking with Variety, Peck confirmed, “I did receive permission to sing that lyric from the subject in question, and he was very thrilled.
“I told him, ‘Look, I’m gonna keep it sort of ambiguous and mysterious, but I would like to include this in this song.’ He was very, very honoured.”
Peck added, “I would never have done it if it were somebody who was hiding or fearful of it coming out.
“This person would have probably allowed me to say their name if I wanted, but I didn’t think it was necessary.
“People can use their own common sense and discovery to try to figure out who it may be, but that’s all I’ll say.”
Carl Nassib became the first active NFL player to publicly come out as gay while playing for the Las Vegas Raiders in June 2021. He retired in 2023.
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On Mule, Orville Peck tells the story, song by song, of the most harrowing year of his life, beginning in June 2023, when he nearly died of an overdose before a show.
“[The title] Mule spoke to me because a mule is part horse, part donkey and they’re sort of bred specifically for working and they’re known for being stubborn,” Peck says.
“They also have a connotation with drug trafficking… I think that’s funny.”
The singer-songwriter first performed the album at two live shows earlier this month, and said “even in rehearsals, I could barely make it through” some of the new songs.
“These are very deep wounds. What better therapy is there than getting up and being able to express these songs?” he said.
“Then there are people listening and relating, and they’re sharing their pain. It’s a spiritual experience.”
Orville Peck’s new album Mule is streaming now. Watch the video for his latest single Already Gone below.
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