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Anthony Gharib, ESPNDec 12, 2024, 07:29 PM ET
Gracie Abrams found an unexpected source of inspiration on a track of the deluxe version of her album “The Secret of Us” — a viral meme coined by LeBron James.
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On “That’s So True,” released in October, Abrams sang: “Smiling through it all, yeah, that’s my life.”
The lyric refers to a nostalgic post by the Los Angeles Lakers star on his Instagram story in 2018 with the caption: “Smiling through it all! Can’t believe this is my life,” as James grinned while in a pool. He posted the selfie after Fox News anchor Laura Ingraham told him to “shut up and dribble.”
James’ post has become a popular social media meme since then. And now, it seems to have lingered on Abrams’ mind while she recorded “That’s So True,” which peaked at No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
The pop star hinted at its inspiration months before its official release.
According to a video posted by Entertainment Weekly in June, Abrams said that she and her best friend and co-writer on the song, Audrey Hobert, would send the meme back and forth to each other when they were sad. Hobert even gifted Abrams a blanket with the photo prominent.
Abrams also joked in the June video about listing James as a co-writer on the track.
She all but confirmed those links Tuesday, posting a lighter on her Instagram story with James’ selfie on it, according to SB Nation’s Harrison Faigen.
“That’s So True” became Abrams’ first Billboard Hot 100 top-10 track in November and spent six weeks on the charts. Her track “us.” featuring Taylor Swift was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.”
