Matthew McConaughey Reveals How a Janet Jackson Song Made Him Quit Weed—and Miss His Own Birthday Party

One joint, the same song on repeat 24 times, and a birthday party he missed entirely—this is the story Matthew McConaughey told Rolling Stone, part of the outlet's "My Life In 10 Songs" feature. He picked Janet Jackson's 1993 single "That's the Way Love Goes," and the reason sounds like a punchline, but it was actually the real turning point that made him quit weed.

"That's a cool ass song, man. Got a lot of flavor to it. Also the reason I quit smoking weed," McConaughey said, breaking into a high-pitched laugh. He explained that weed at the time was shifting from traditional growing methods to hydroponic cultivation, and the potency was nothing like before. "Back in the day weed was rolled up in a joint, you smoked it, passed it around, everybody giggled, ate a bunch of snacks, and maybe wanted to get cozy with someone," he recalled. "Then hydroponic weed came along, and one hit would send your thoughts spiraling out of control—you'd totally lose it."

That day, he was heading out to his own birthday party, which had taken over an entire nightclub. Before leaving, a friend handed him a joint and said, "Take a hit, it's gonna be fun." McConaughey took one hit in the car, and it was "nothing like what I used to smoke." He put on "That's the Way Love Goes" and ended up looping it 24 times straight. By the time he finally got out of the car and walked into the party, the place was empty—the party was over, and everyone had left.

"I just sat there in that damn car and listened to that song 24 times, because in that moment I genuinely felt like it mattered more than walking into my own birthday party," he concluded. "Love the song, hate the weed. Still love that song to this day."

"That's the Way Love Goes" marked Janet Jackson's transition from upbeat pop into a more mature R&B sound, spending eight weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and peaking at No. 2 on the UK Singles Chart.