Billboard may have removed Lil Nas X‘s trap-infused western slap “Old Town Road” from the Hot Country Songs chart for not being “country” enough but that didn’t stop Billy Ray Cyrus, one the genre’s biggest stars, from hopping on the remix.
The multi-platinum selling musician came to the up-and-coming artist’s defense after listening to the song just one time. Cyrus doesn’t agree with Billboard’s take that “Old Town Road” doesn’t contain enough elements a traditional country song.
“It was so obvious to me after hearing the song just one time,” he tweeted. “I was thinking, what’s not country about it? What’s the rudimentary element a country and western song? Then I thought, it’s honest, humble, and has an infectious hook, and a banjo. What the hell more do ya need?”
It was so obvious to me after hearing the song just one time. I was thinking, what’s not country about it? What’s the rudimentary element a country and western song? Then I thought, it’s honest, humble, and has an infectious hook, and a banjo. What the hell more do ya need?
— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) April 5, 2019
Cyrus’ addition to the song challenges Billboard’s decision to banish “Old Town Road” from the country charts. When he got together with Lil Nas X in the studio for the remix, the Grammy-nominated musician fered the 19-year-old artist some encouragement.
“You’re a light in this world,” Cyrus can be heard saying in an Instagram clip. “You’re gonna shine. People are gonna see you from all over the universe.”
The original “Old Town Road” gained massive popularity on the social media app TikTok at the top 2019, and needless to say, people are loving the remix with Cyrus just as much. Though Twitter and Instagram are swarming with charming “Old Town Road” memes, there’s no telling if Billboard will ever double-back and allow for the song to return to country charts.
Listen to Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” remix featuring Cyrus above.