Burt Reynolds’s 1972 centerfold in Cosmopolitan was, simply put, a major moment in pop culture. It was our magazine’s—any magazine’s—first time featuring a man in that kind of spread, and it cemented Burt’s status as one of America’s sexiest men. In homage, we’re launching the Cosmo Centerfold series, in which we take cheeky pics (and ask cheeky questions) of the hottest celebs of our time. To get the printable, hang-on-your-wall version, you’ll have to pick up an actual Cosmo to see it in the flesh (sorry, had to). Enjoy!
When I pull up to the multilevel Brooklyn warehouse for Shaboozey’s photo shoot, I immediately overstand some of the thirstiness I’ve seen in his Instagram comment section. His signature jumbo locs are pristinely groomed, his melanin is glistening, and he’s belting out some old-timey country song in between setups. When the camera goes on, though, he actually seems a little shy, which is a surprising and endearing change of pace from his usual modern-day outlaw vibe.
I get it. He’s not used to all of this just yet. It’s the end of July, just a few months after he boomed into our mainstream consciousness with features on Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter and then cemented himself with the banger “Bar Song (Tipsy)” that basically pitched a tent and set up camp at the Billboard number one spot. On this summer day, it’s his very first editorial shoot—before the tour, before the nominations, before the wins—and he’s like a rocket just before takeoff: all lit and revved up with a blast off happening in 3…2…1.
During our interview, we huddled at a wooden table in the back room of the warehouse and I got him to indulge all of my probing questions, much to his slight embarrassment. In front of the table was a big window overlooking the tree-lined Brooklyn block, and he’d stare out of it thoughtfully before answering questions. When he really wanted to finesse my prying, he’d charmingly flip my question back to me but in a way that felt genuinely curious and interested. So, yeah. Prepare to fall even more in love with this man. We got into his relationship with the country music community, which zodiac sign he thinks is the most toxic (sorry, water signs), that time he started writing a romance novel, and his *very* passionate feelings about third dates. Read on for a convo that will absolutely leave you saying, Oh my, good Lord.
How does it feel to know people are potentially going to put posters of you on their wall?
It’s really cool. I’m a big fan of vintage stuff and part of that is posters and merchandise and having these iconic images that you see from your favorite artists. It’s cool to potentially have something like that as well.
I’m obsessed with the car that we have on set for this shoot. Would you consider yourself a car guy? Like, are you the type to go to a car show and have a great time?
One hundred percent. I would have a great time. I like American-made muscle sports cars, like late ’60s and very early ’70s. The first car I purchased with my own money, I bought an all-white 1969 c-10 Chevy pickup truck. It was kind of busted and needed a lot of work so it was always breaking down and I ended up selling it at the beginning of the pandemic. Before that, my parents gave me a 1985 Toyota Land Cruiser or something like that. It probably goes for a lot of money now.
Did you have a spot that you would regularly go to with your car when you were younger?
In Virginia, you just go into the woods or a fun little lake to kick back at.
I feel like you haven’t had a ton of kick back time lately. Describe what life was like before and after Cowboy Carter in three words.
For pre: hopeful, consistent, and eager. And post, I would say: abundant, chaotic, and grateful.
If you had to describe your relationship with the country music community using a high school cafeteria, who would you be sitting with?
There’s always that one new person who came in the middle of the school year and they have an aura about them and just stand in on their own—like they just seen some shit—so they’re not even really interested in being at anybody’s table for real, but everybody wants them at their table because they’re so intrigued by that new person. I would say it’s more like that. I’ll sit by myself, but I’m still cool with everyone. I’m just not eager to be sat anywhere specifically, you know? I’ll make my own path and my own table.
Let’s switch gears a bit and talk about your aesthetic, which has become a big topic of conversation in the best way. What makes you feel your sexiest?
I feel my sexiest on date night, especially when I’m getting dressed. I like to wear something bold that’s a little bit out there and that accentuates my personality or what I want to exude in that moment. Sometimes I might be feeling like a bad boy, like, I’m just trying to come out here and look like I don’t give a fuck, but I still got that shit on. It’s good to get fly.
That’s a fact! What’s your version of a perfect date? Are you an activity guy?
Nothing beats food and drinks. I think it’s the best when you get a bite with somebody and y’all are talking and eating for a couple of hours and then it’s going so well that someone’s like, “Let’s go get a drink.” That’s what I like. I like when you spend a long time with someone.
Do you have any thoughts about what makes a good first date versus third date?
I’m kind of quick with it. By the third date, we already locked in. I’m a hopeless romantic and a lover. So usually by date one, I know. Ain’t no reason to be on the third date unless you want a free meal. I’m just being honest. We still trying to get to know each other on the third one? Like?! The third date is like, we go together.
I don’t not support this message. Are you into astrology at all? What zodiac sign are you most attracted to?
I tend to like Pisces and Leos. I’m a Taurus though. I don’t know anything about the other ones.
Do you feel like one gives you bigger red flags than the other?
The Pisces for sure. All signs are emotional. I feel like I’m emotional too. As a Taurus, we’re just stubborn and hardheaded. But I don’t think the Pisces I dated were emotional, I think they were the complete opposite and lacked the emotions.
How would you describe your own emotional self?
I definitely can be an idealist because I’m a creative and I imagine things and I have visions, so I like to be with someone that I can see a future with. Whether that’s on a career level on a personal level, maybe having a family or something like that.
What’s an indicator for you that someone’s within that vision? What are some of your big green flags?
Emotional maturity and intelligence. Also being creative, but going a step beyond that and also having that resourcefulness to chase their dreams and their desires. Or if they’re working on a project, to be so into it. I want someone on the same wavelength as me when it comes to creativity and art.
I’m just being nosy at this point: Have you ever received any crazy DMs?
Really?
Really really.
There’s some crazy stuff in there for sure. That’s, like, every day. It definitely gets “Oh, no…,” but if I see something like that, I usually avoid it, don’t open it, or even engage in it. It’s probably somebody asking me to marry them or something like that. Nah, it gets crazy, I can’t even talk about that here.
I’m sure it does! I know some people have said—
Yeah, what have you heard?!
The last person we interviewed for this said fans have been like, “I'll sign an NDA, I promise...”
Ahh! That’s crazy. You know, I don’t usually talk about this stuff openly. Is that what Cosmopolitan is? Are you gonna ask me, “Is somebody gonna match my freak this summer”?
That actually was on my list. Kidding! Okay, going back to your hopeless romantic side, I heard that you used to read romance cowboy novels. Confirm or deny?
Deny. I used to collect pulp novels, like those old novels with the paintings on the front and it was usually a cowboy holding on to this damsel, but then in another part of it it’s, like, a collage. Each cover was just fire and inspiring and good for mood board stuff. So it wasn’t like I was out there looking for the romance cowboy. I’ve actually never read a romance novel. Do you read romance novels?
It’s my preferred genre! Did you used to want to be a novelist? Was that a desire at one point?
Yes. I started writing a romance novel when I was around 18. I have it on my phone. It was about an art thief engaging in something pretty taboo and the other was an art enthusiast. It was about these two people who were very well connected to each other and met later in life under the pretense of art. I got, like, 300 pages in and then I left it alone. I realized it would take a lot of time to really finish it out. Maybe I got lazy. It felt like I needed 400 more pages to finish. I just started writing and didn’t really have an outline or anything. I just started going.
I’m begging you to consider finishing the novel. I have to read that. Before we wrap, I need to know: What are three things you keep in or on your nightstand?
My nightstand has a phone charger, of course. A notebook to write ideas and dreams that I want to remember, and you know, there’s some condoms there too. Just for safety of sorts. Sorry, Mom.
Lead image: Calvin Klein tank top. Agolde jeans. Louis Vuitton Men’s sunglasses. Ben Shoppe necklace. Fendi Men’s ring (left). John Hardy ring (right).
Styling by Andrea Zendejas. Groomer: Miguel Lledo at See Management using Sisley Paris. Vintage car: 1967 Velocity Signature Series Mustang.
