Lil Nas X is redefining country music and causing people to ask serious questions about the genre’s racial roots with his song “Old Town Road.” The song originally entered music streaming sites under the country genre (with many defining it as country rap or Trap music) but was booted off the Billboard country charts. The song had been holding steady at number 15 on Billboard’s Hot 100 and has now jumped to number one.
After Billboard removed the song from country music charts controversy broke out. Celebrities weighed in including Justin Bieber and Will Smith. Miley Cyrus’ father ended up doing a remix of the song. It’s interesting to note that Miley Cyrus, the goddaughter of Dolly Parton, was once viewed as country music’s darling (especially with her rendition of Dolly’s Jolene), but then embraced hip-hop.
Miley sparked controversy with her country music fans when Mike WiLL Made-It released “23” featuring Miley Cyrus, Wiz Khalifa & Juicy J. Now it is her own father, Billy Ray Cyrus, who not only defended Lil Nas X’s Old Town Road but sang several verses in the remix.
Now, fans have come forward to say that after Billboard removed the song from the country charts, they bought Lil Nas X’s original version, propelling it to climb the charts. “Old Town Road” knocked Ariana Grande’s “7 Rings” from the top spot.
After being pulled from the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, which is was climbing, because Billboard said it “does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music,” Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" claims the Number One spot on… https://t.co/v3iHMds3TN
— KWCD 92.3 (@KWCDNews) April 10, 2019
“Old Town Road” has become a viral hit and resulted in Lil Nas X getting signed with Columbia. The remix is just as popular and has introduced more country fans to country rap.
Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus are both active on social media sites and anyone who really wants to get into the discussion about the evolution of country music and whether “Old Town Road” is truly a country song will find plenty of people weighing in on social media.
Some have suggested that Lil Nas X is a one-hit wonder with his viral song but he adamantly states that he is not.
Billy Ray Cyrus had a number one hit with the viral-worthy song “Achy Breaky Heart.” Now that he has joined in on the remix, people are wondering if that song too will break into the charts and become another number one hit.ee
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What do you think of Lil Nas X and “Old Town Road?” Are you surprised the song climbed to number one after being removed from the country music charts?
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