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Lil Nas X Gets Country Stamp of Approval With Billy Ray Cyrus' "Old Town Road" Remix
While fans and critics continue to the longwinded debate over whether "Old Town Road" is a country song or not, country music legend lent Lil Nas X his country stamp of approval.
Billboard had now infamously removed the viral track from its Hot Country chart, charing, "it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music.”
According to a report in Rolling Stone, the 57-year-old artist is hopping on the first official “Old Town Road” remix.
The country hitmaker, best known for his no. 1 single "Achy Breaky Heart" added a verse to the song, and it's a real deal remix that is slated to be available on all streaming services at midnight.
READ: Is Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” Hip-Hop or Country? The Answer Is: Both
Last week, Cyrus posted a statement seemingly in support of "Old Town Road" being deemed a country song, writing, "Don't try and think inside the box. Don't think outside the box. Think like there is no box." #HorsesInTheBack."
This week, according to a Chart Data report, "Old Town Road would have hit no. 1 on Billboard Hot Country Songs chart had it not been removed. In response to the news, Cyrus dedicated another Instagram post to Nas X, writing, "When I got thrown off the charts, Waylon Jennings said to me “Take this as a compliment” means you’re doing something great! Only Outlaws are outlawed. Welcome to the club!"
It's an interesting cosign for Lil Nas X. In 1992, Cyrus' hit song, "Achy Breaky Heart" became a crossover hit on pop and country radio, peaking at no. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 while also topping the Hot Country Songs chart. It became the first country single to be certified Platinum since Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton's 1983 song, "Islands in the Stream," and Cyrus became responsible for reinvigorating the genre at a time when country music was in a transition period.
“Old Town Road” is at Number 15 on the latest Hot 100 and is ranked in Spotify’s Top 5 songs in the U.S., at least.
