Max McNown is shining a light on the special meaning behind his brand-new single, “Call Me If You Miss Me.”
“It wasn’t necessarily directly inspired by heartbreak recently,” McNown, 23, exclusively shared with Us Weekly before premiering the song on Friday, March 7. “I liked the layering of a poem being written about how people turn to poems to get through emotional distress sometimes. That’s where the song was born.”
In the emotional chorus, McNown sings about the end of a relationship and the various emotions one goes through when trying to heal.
“Goodbyes turn to poetry / Heartbreak turns to whiskey,” he sings. “And if you turn to lonely / Call me if you miss me.”
Zach Bryan’s Highs and Lows: From Viral Hits to Public Breakups
Before fans dissect every word and question who it could be about, McNown explained to Us that the song is more “generally about my experiences.”
“I had my heart broken many times growing up and just throughout my life,” he shared. “And luckily, I am with a wonderful girl now, and she’s been keeping me steady through this entire career and the growth, and it’s been amazing.”
When inspiration struck and the song was written on a spontaneous trip from Oregon to West Yellowstone, McNown added that he wasn’t with his current girlfriend — meaning “the only things I had to go off of were failed relationships.”
McNown’s journey from an Oregon kid to one of Nashville’s fastest rising stars has captured the attention of many in the music industry.
His sophomore album, Night Diving, received positive reviews and resulted in a sold-out tour, and he’s gained more than 1.6 million followers via Instagram. Some have even called him the next Zach Bryan — a compliment he appreciates but takes with a grain of salt.
“I think Zach Bryan is one of the greatest songwriters of my entire lifetime, truly,” he said. “I don’t think my music resembles his, and that’s not because I don’t like his music, but that’s just because I don’t want to be the next Zach Bryan.”
Instead, McNown is making music on his own terms and creating his own path in a competitive industry.
He can’t help but look up to Thomas Rhett for how he’s carried himself as a family man and “handled fame.”
“It’s easy to lose yourself in the world, and Thomas Rhett hasn’t,” McNown said. “I have always looked up to that.”
2025 Awards Season Calendar: Save the Date for Emmys, ACMs and More
As his career continues to take off — he just performed at his first festival on Saturday, March 1, at Extra Innings in Tempe, Arizona — McNown said he’s buckled in and ready to enjoy the ride.
“I have so much passion for what I do with music and singing and writing,” he said. “I’m gonna keep doing it. … It’s very interesting to see lives that music can take outside of what you expected.”
“Call Me If You Miss Me” is out now.
