Why Country Needs Lil Nas X

When Lil Nas X uploaded “Old Town Road” with the message that country music was evolving, I doubt that he had any idea what would happen next.

The song became so popular that it made three Billboard charts, including debuting at number 19 on Hot Country charts. The song may have topped the charts for the 19-year-old rapper, but we will never know. Billboard decided to pull the song from the country charts, citing that it essentially not country enough to be on the country charts even though it does contain cowboy imagery.

That move started me thinking about artists in different genres who have successfully broken into the country charts.

• Conway Twitty was a rock and roll artist who turned country and became one of the most successful country artists.
• Lionel Richie was on the country charts with “Stuck On You” in 1984.
• The Eagles ranked at number 34 on CMT’s 40 Greatest Men in Country Music in 2003.
• Darius Rucker, former lead singer for Hootie and the Blowfish, released his first country album in 2008 and has had several hits.
• Artists such as Aaron Lewis, Steven Tyler and the Backstreet Boys have all received airplay on country radio.

There are other examples as well. Why is it different for Lil Nas X? I don’t have the answer to that. Now that Billboard has made itself a gatekeeper of sorts, it seems to me that country music needs Lil Nas X.

To be honest, I am not a huge fan of “Old Town Road” and that is just fine. It is unrealistic to think that I am going to like every song that is released. Lil Nas X has the right to record a country song if he wants to do so. I don’t think he has a desire to become a country artist. He should have the right to have a country hit.

I see a bigger problem with Billboard’s decision. It is a slippery slope when they start playing the role of the gatekeeper. After Lil Nas X, who will be the next artist to be denied from the country music chart? Is it possible that today’s hottest country stars will be re-evaluated and determined not to be close enough to country to continue to be included on the Hot Country chars? Is it possible that country music legends such as George Strait and Reba McEntire might get locked out of the Hot Country chart because they are too far from the modern country sound? Once these decisions start to get made, they are very difficult, if not impossible, to stop.

I hope neither of those two scenarios actually happen. I think country music is big enough to include everyone that want to record a country song. Lil Nas X doesn’t sound like Hank Williams, but he should get a chance at having a having a hit country song if he wants one. If the fan likes the song, they will buy it and request it at radio stations. Obviously, fans do like “Old Town Road” if it debuted at number 19 on Billboard’s Hot Country chart. That’s quite an accomplishment in itself.

Apparently, I’m not the only one who feels that way. Lil Nas X has a new remix of the song featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.

“I loved the song the first time I heard it. Country music fans decide what they like. Not critics or anyone else. Waylon Jennings once told me every once in a while the industry outlaws someone because they’re different. Country music fans don’t need to be defined by critics. I’ve always said, don’t think inside the box, don’t think outside the box. Think like there is no box. So, I’m honored to collaborate with Lil Nas X on Old Town Road,” Cyrus said in a statement.

I think everyone can win now. “Old Town Road” will hopefully have its chance to hit the top of the Hot Country charts. I hope that Billboard has learned something in this situation and will stay out of making decision regarding what is and isn’t country.

Rick Amburgey is an experienced journalist and country music fan. He can be contacted at @Views Country.