Exclusive: Rachel Bilson Opens Up About the Untold Story Behind Kings of Leon’s Hit Song ‘My Party’!
Rachel Bilson discusses her reaction to Kings of Leon's 2007 song 'My Party,' which was written about her, during an episode of her podcast 'Broad Ideas'
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Rachel Bilson is now aware — and can confirm — that the Kings of Leon song “My Party” is about her.
Bilson jokingly mentioned on her "Broad Ideas" podcast that the lyric, "She was at my party," in the song is inspired by a personal experience where she was the one present at the party. The song, titled "My Party," is from the band's 2007 album Because of the Times and expresses lead singer Caleb Followill's attraction towards Bilson while feeling lonely during a break from touring. Although the song doesn't explicitly mention Bilson by name, the chorus vaguely repeats, "Oh, she's at my party." Followill discussed the inspiration behind "My Party" in an interview with Entertainment Weekly in April 2007.
The musician recounted to the outlet that he developed a fondness for Rachel Bilson from the TV series The O.C. When asked what he wanted for his birthday in Los Angeles, his response was consistently, "I don't mind, as long as Rachel Bilson's there." The birthday celebration took place at a large club, where many people were present for various events. As they entered the club, the musician was astonished to see Rachel Bilson as the first person he laid eyes on, although he clarified that she wasn't there specifically for him. Nonetheless, when she waved at him, he was so overwhelmed with awe that he completely shut down.
"I was completely speechless. She was accompanied by her boyfriend at the time, Adam Brody, so I couldn't approach her and exclaim, 'Wow, you're here!' That's why I incorporated that sentiment into the song. Hopefully, she will come across it," he playfully remarked during that period.
Although they didn't have a connection back then—Bilson was in a relationship with her former O.C. costar Brody, now 43, from 2003 to 2007—the actress revealed on a recent podcast episode that she stumbled upon the article when producer Rob Holysz sent it to her.
Followill was among the numerous celebrities competing for Bilson's attention in the early 2000s. On a recent episode of "Broad Ideas," Bilson disclosed that she once initiated a flirtation with Justin Timberlake — "I was completely infatuated with him," she enthusiastically expressed about the 42-year-old singer — at a party, but their moment was disrupted when cohost Olivia Allen sat between them.
Eventually, Bilson settled down with her former partner Hayden Christensen, whom she met while filming their 2008 movie, Jumper. The couple, who have an 8-year-old daughter named Briar Rose, remained together for almost a decade before deciding to end their relationship in 2017. In 2020, she started dating Bill Hader, but their romance came to an end after six months in July 2021.
Bilson has gained a reputation for openly discussing her dating and sexual experiences on her podcast. After ending her relationship with Hader, Bilson made a joking remark about missing his sexual prowess on a podcast episode in March 2022.
A year later, Bilson revealed that she didn't experience an orgasm during sex until she was 38 years old. She later clarified that she didn't blame any of her previous partners for this, explaining that it was a matter of her understanding her own body. During a podcast episode in March, she discussed this with Nick Viall on "The Viall Files" podcast. In June, Bilson admitted that she has never faked an orgasm with a partner because it goes against her nature of prioritizing her own pleasure over pleasing others.
Bilson recently gained attention for her views on dating middle-aged men with fewer sexual partners. On the October 3 episode of "Broad Ideas," she expressed her opinion, stating, "I don't mean to sound judgmental, but if a guy in his 40s has only been with four women... it varies though. It's possible he's been in decade-long relationships, which is completely respectable."
Bilson defended herself against Whoopi Goldberg's comments on an episode of The View, emphasizing the importance of listening to the entire conversation before forming judgment. She explained that her podcast provides a safe and open space for discussions, and although she has the option to edit, she decided to include the conversation in its entirety, acknowledging that sometimes people may say something in the heat of the moment and later reflect upon it.
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She persisted, affirming, "The key message I convey is that it is inconsequential, and perhaps in the past, I might have regarded it with judgment, but I have shed that mindset. I explicitly expressed my intention not to appear judgmental; what truly matters is that this viewpoint is comprehended, not my initial words."
Caleb Followill
