:Old Town Road
{{short description|2018 single by Lil Nas X}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Old Town Road
| cover = Old Town Road cover.jpg
| border = yes
| alt = A black horse in a white background.
| type = single
| artist = Lil Nas X
| EP = 7
| released = {{Start date|2018|12|3}} (original)
April 5, 2019 (Billy Ray Cyrus remix)
| recorded = {{Start date|2018|12|2}}
| studio = CinCoYo (Atlanta, Georgia)
| genre =
- Country rap
- {{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/arts/music/lil-nas-x-old-town-road.html|title=Country or Not, Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Hits No. 1 on the Billboard Chart|first=Joe|last=Coscarelli|newspaper=The New York Times|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2021|archive-date=December 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228065837/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/09/arts/music/lil-nas-x-old-town-road.html|url-status=live}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/04/01/lil-nas-x-country-trap-old-town-road-billboard-time|title=Lil Nas X says Billboard has a problem with country trap, not his race|website=The FADER|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=December 28, 2021|archive-date=December 28, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211228065841/https://www.thefader.com/2019/04/01/lil-nas-x-country-trap-old-town-road-billboard-time|url-status=live}}
- Southern hip-hop
| length = {{Duration|m=1|s=53}} (original version)
{{Duration|m=2|s=37}} (Billy Ray Cyrus remix)
| label = Columbia
| writer =
| producer =
- YoungKio
- Trent Reznor
- Atticus Ross|
| chronology = Lil Nas X
| prev_title = Thanos (Blow It)
| prev_year = 2018
| next_title = Panini
| next_year = 2019
| misc = {{External music video|header=Audio video|{{YouTube|9YpvNgCSaCU|"Old Town Road"}}}}
{{Extra album cover
| header = Remix cover
| type = Single
| cover = Old Town Road Remix cover.jpg
| border = yes
| alt = Chestnut and black horses in a white background.
| caption = Billy Ray Cyrus remix cover
}}
{{Extra chronology
| artist = Billy Ray Cyrus
| type = single
| prev_title = Achy Breaky Heart 25
| prev_year = 2017
| title = Old Town Road
| version = remix
| year = 2019
| next_title = Chevys and Fords
| next_year = 2019
}}
{{External music video|header=Remix music video|{{YouTube|w2Ov5jzm3j8|"Old Town Road (Remix)"}}}}
}}
"Old Town Road" is the debut mainstream single by the American rapper and singer Lil Nas X, first released independently in December 2018. After gaining popularity, the single was re-released by Columbia Records in March 2019. He also recorded a remix with American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, which was released on April 5, 2019. Both were included on Lil Nas X's second EP, 7 (2019).
The song has been widely viewed as "country rap", a somewhat rare musical style not often heard in the mainstream prior to this song's release. Dutch record producer YoungKio composed the instrumental and made it available for purchase online in 2018. It features a sample of "34 Ghosts IV" by the American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails. The sample was placed behind trap-style Roland TR-808 drums and bass. Lil Nas X purchased the instrumental for US$30 and recorded "Old Town Road" in one day. At the time, he had been living with his sister after dropping out of college; his real-world struggles were an influence on some of the lyrics.
The song initially gained popularity on the video sharing app TikTok and eventually entered the Billboard charts in March 2019.{{Cite book|last=Rambarran|first=Shara|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1236265553|title=Virtual Music Sound, Music, and Image in the Digital Era.|date=2021|publisher=Bloomsbury Academic & Professional|isbn=978-1-5013-3362-0|location=New York|oclc=1236265553|access-date=September 5, 2021|archive-date=April 22, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422162024/https://www.worldcat.org/title/1236265553|url-status=live}} The song also reached number 19 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart before the magazine disqualified it from the chart on the grounds that it did not "fit" the genre, sparking a debate on what constitutes the "definition" of country music. Though "Old Town Road" did not re-enter any country charts, both versions of the song collectively peaked at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, remaining at the top for a record-breaking 19 consecutive weeks; the remix peaked at no. 50 on Billboard{{'}}s Country Airplay chart. One or more versions of "Old Town Road" have topped the national singles charts in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, and have charted in the top 10 in various other international markets.
The song was certified diamond by the RIAA in October 2019 for selling 10 million total units in the United States, the fastest song to be certified diamond.{{Cite news |first=Jay |last=Connor |url=https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/lil-nas-x-takes-the-old-town-road-to-diamond-status-be-1839292040 |title=Lil Nas X Takes the 'Old Town Road' to Diamond Status, Becomes Fastest Song Ever to Do So |date=October 23, 2019 |website=The Root |access-date=October 24, 2019 |archive-date=October 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024001713/https://thegrapevine.theroot.com/lil-nas-x-takes-the-old-town-road-to-diamond-status-be-1839292040 |url-status=live }} At the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, the remix (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) was nominated for Record of the Year and won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video. In October 2019, Columbia Records and Sony Music Entertainment won the Music & Sound Recordings Award from SAG-AFTRA for "work that exemplifies equal access" to LGBTQ individuals and "other misrepresented or underrepresented groups."{{Cite web|last=McNary|first=Dave|date=October 8, 2019|title=SAG-AFTRA Honors 'It's Been a Minute,' 'Ramy,' 'Old Town Road'|url=https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/sag-aftra-american-scene-awards-honorees-1203363847/|access-date=October 10, 2019|website=Variety|archive-date=October 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191010041722/https://variety.com/2019/tv/news/sag-aftra-american-scene-awards-honorees-1203363847/|url-status=live}}
In September 2021, the song set the record for the second-highest certified song in history by the RIAA, at 16× platinum in the United States—meaning it accumulated 16 million equivalent song units.[https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9509238/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-riaa-history-14-times-platinum/ Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Becomes the Highest Certified Song in RIAA History] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125191659/https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/9509238/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-riaa-history-14-times-platinum/ |date=January 25, 2021 }} Ashley Iasimone, Billboard,
1/9/2021 The single has sold over 18 million copies worldwide,{{Cite magazine|title=Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy' Named IFPI's Biggest Global Single of 2019|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/international/9331529/billie-eilish-bad-guy-ifpi-global-single-2019-list|access-date=May 21, 2021|magazine=Billboard|language=en}} making it one of the best-selling singles of all time.{{Cite web|last=Lanier|first=Josh|date=April 8, 2021|title=Billy Ray Cyrus Suggests Working on Western Film With 'Old Town Road' Singer Lil Nas X|url=https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/billy-ray-cyrus-suggests-working-on-western-film-with-old-town-road-singer-lil-nas/|access-date=May 21, 2021|website=Outsider|language=en-US|archive-date=May 21, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210521102411/https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/billy-ray-cyrus-suggests-working-on-western-film-with-old-town-road-singer-lil-nas/|url-status=live}} Rolling Stone named it the 490th greatest song of all time in its 2021 list.{{Cite magazine|date=September 15, 2021|title=The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-songs-of-all-time-1224767/|access-date=September 19, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|language=en-US}}
Background and recording
Country rap, and its subgenre, country trap, emerged onto the mainstream following the American rapper Young Thug's experimental mixtape Beautiful Thugger Girls (2017). Lil Nas X has cited Young Thug as a pioneer of country trap. In May 2018, Lil Tracy and Lil Uzi Vert ignited the trend with their country rap single "Like a Farmer (Remix)".{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8503019/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-five-things-to-know|title=5 Things to Know About 'Old Town Road' Rapper Lil Nas X|magazine=Billboard|author=Michael Saponara|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thefader.com/2019/03/27/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard-country-chart-removal|title=Billboard erases Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' from country music chart|website=The Fader|author=Salvatore Maicki|date=March 27, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019|quote=Lil Nas X's hit is one of the latest entries in a storied canon of country rap, a trend reignited last year by Lil Tracy and Lil Uzi Vert's "Like a Farmer."|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626185316/https://www.thefader.com/2019/03/27/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard-country-chart-removal|url-status=live}}
In 2018, Lil Nas X dropped out of college to pursue a music career even though he was discouraged by his parents. He moved in with his sister, spending time promoting his music on the Internet while having just three hours of sleep each night. Lil Nas X found the beat for "Old Town Road" in October 2018 and began writing after his sister told him he had to move out soon.{{cite tweet|number=1155911402827046913|user=LilNasX|title=🤠 |accessdate=August 27, 2019|date=July 29, 2019}} Lil Nas X felt like he was "out of options" and said that his sister's and parents' frustrations with him inspired the song's chorus, "can't nobody tell me nothing". Within a month of writing it, Lil Nas X chose to alter the song's meaning so that the "old town road" would be a symbol of success. Lil Nas X recorded the song on December 2, 2018, at the CinCoYo Recording Studio in Atlanta,{{cite AV media notes|title="Old Town Road"|others=Lil Nas X; Billy Ray Cyrus|year=2019|type=vinyl notes|publisher=Columbia Records}} and released it the same day on SoundCloud under the title "Old Town Road (I Got the Horses in the Back)".{{Cite web|url=https://slate.com/culture/2021/04/lil-nas-x-montero-call-me-by-your-name-billboard-memes.html|title="Montero" Is the Gayest No. 1 Single in Billboard History|date=April 9, 2021|first=Chris|last=Molanphy|work=Slate|access-date=April 10, 2021|archive-date=April 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410005334/https://slate.com/culture/2021/04/lil-nas-x-montero-call-me-by-your-name-billboard-memes.html|url-status=live}}
The Dutch record producer YoungKio produced the beat a year before the song's release and uploaded it as Future Type Beat to his online store for selling beats. He sampled Nine Inch Nails' track "34 Ghosts IV" after finding it from his YouTube algorithm's suggested videos. YoungKio downloaded the song and imported the file to FL Studio, chopping up the Nine Inch Nails sample and filtering it so that it sounded like an old field recording, then reordering sections in an effort to make the austere original more catchy and adding drums underneath.{{Cite web|url=https://benmorss.com/rock-theory/old-town-road/|title=The long and winding "Old Town Road"|date=August 16, 2020|access-date=August 22, 2020|author=Ben Morss|archive-date=September 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923083410/https://benmorss.com/rock-theory/old-town-road/|url-status=live}}{{cite web | last=Cea | first=Max | title=The Producer of "Old Town Road" Is 19, Dutch, and Living His Dreams | website=GQ | date=2019-04-23 | url=https://www.gq.com/story/youngkio-old-town-road-interview | access-date=2023-08-16 | archive-date=April 11, 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411185724/https://www.gq.com/story/youngkio-old-town-road-interview | url-status=live }} He had never heard of Nine Inch Nails before stumbling upon "34 Ghosts IV".{{Cite web|work=Business Insider|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-nine-inch-nails-sample-2019-5|title=Lil Nas X's country-trap hit 'Old Town Road' samples a Nine Inch Nails song — and the band might have a claim to some of the royalties|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=June 24, 2019|author=Pamela Engel|archive-date=June 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190625023032/https://www.businessinsider.com/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-nine-inch-nails-sample-2019-5|url-status=live}} YoungKio did not have the intention of the beat being country related and did not see it as a country music instrumental.{{cite magazine | last=Lamarre | first=Carl | title='Old Town Road' Producer YoungKio on How Lil Nas X's Song Came to Life | magazine=Billboard | date=2019-03-28 | url=https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/old-town-road-producer-youngkio-interview-lil-nas-x-8504409/ | access-date=2023-08-16 | archive-date=May 6, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230506070402/https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/old-town-road-producer-youngkio-interview-lil-nas-x-8504409/ | url-status=live }} Lil Nas X bought the beat from YoungKio for $30, but since purchases on his online store were anonymous, YoungKio did not know the song was purchased by Lil Nas X until he saw it in an Instagram meme in December 2018.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8504409/old-town-road-producer-youngkio-interview-lil-nas-x|title='Old Town Road' Producer YoungKio on How Lil Nas X's Song Came to Life|magazine=Billboard|date=March 28, 2019|access-date=April 9, 2019}} Trent Reznor later said that, shortly after the song began gaining traction, he received a call from Lil Nas X's manager about the sample, asking for clearance to use it, which he granted. He described the song as "undeniably hooky".{{cite magazine |last=Grow |first=Kory |title=Trent Reznor Breaks Silence on 'Undeniably Hooky' 'Old Town Road' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/trent-reznor-old-town-road-903889/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=October 25, 2019 |access-date=November 19, 2019}}
On December 4, 2018, a day after the original version's release, Lil Nas X tweeted that he wanted Cyrus on the song.{{cite tweet|number=1070125203345342464|user=LilNasX|title=twitter please help me get billy ray cyrus on this |accessdate=April 5, 2019|date=December 4, 2018}} Lil Nas X knew of Cyrus because of his role on the Disney Channel television series Hannah Montana.{{Cite web|url=https://www.businessinsider.com/billy-ray-cyrus-interview-hannah-montana-old-town-road-2020-1|title=Billy Ray Cyrus says Lil Nas X only knew he made country music because of 'Hannah Montana'|website=Business Insider|access-date=February 1, 2020|archive-date=February 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200201212930/https://www.businessinsider.com/billy-ray-cyrus-interview-hannah-montana-old-town-road-2020-1|url-status=live}} The country singer Jake Owen was originally approached to co-write and record the first remix of "Old Town Road".{{Cite web|url=https://bobbybones.iheart.com/featured/bobby-bones/content/2019-05-30-listen-the-unreleased-version-of-old-town-road-with-jake-owen/|last=Huelsman|first=Morgan|title=LISTEN: The Unreleased Version Of "Old Town Road" With Jake Owen|date=May 30, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019|work=The Bobby Bones Show|publisher=Premiere Networks Inc.|archive-date=August 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819200429/https://bobbybones.iheart.com/featured/bobby-bones/content/2019-05-30-listen-the-unreleased-version-of-old-town-road-with-jake-owen/|url-status=live}} The Columbia Records executive, Ron Perry, reached out to Cyrus' wife Tish Cyrus saying that he would love it if Cyrus were to hear "Old Town Road". Cyrus first heard the song over coffee on March 16, 2019, when Tish played it to him.{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptKqFafZgCk|title=How Lil Nas X Took 'Old Town Road' From TikTok Meme to No. 1 – Diary of a Song|website=YouTube|publisher=The New York Times|date=May 9, 2019|access-date=July 31, 2019|archive-date=November 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191110153141/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptKqFafZgCk|url-status=live}} Cyrus explained that he loved the original song the first time he heard it.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/old-town-road-black-cowboys-dom-flemons-818220/|title= 'Old Town Road' and the History of Black Cowboys in America|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 5, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019|author=Jonathan Bernstein|quote=Today, Lil Nas X released a remix of the song with country-crossover singer Billy Ray Cyrus, who says he "loved the song the first time I heard it."}} Cyrus also mentioned that he related to the song the first time he heard it, connecting the "old town road" to the Old Town Bridge in Argillite, Kentucky, that he used to play on as a child.{{cite tweet|number=1114249608526356480|user=billyraycyrus|title=Congrats @lilnasx 🤠 I’m always in your corner! #1 #OTR #OldTownRoadREMIX |accessdate=April 5, 2019|date=April 5, 2019}} In response to Billboard removing "Old Town Road" from the Hot Country Songs chart, Cyrus tweeted his support for Lil Nas X and noted that the removal put him in the ranks of great outlaws.{{Cite web|url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/04/billy-ray-cyrus-lil-nas-x-old-town-road-remix-country.html|title=Billy Ray Cyrus Gives Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' a Ringing Endorsement With Remix|author=Dee Locket|website=Vulture|date=April 5, 2019|access-date=April 5, 2019|archive-date=April 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405211909/https://www.vulture.com/2019/04/billy-ray-cyrus-lil-nas-x-old-town-road-remix-country.html|url-status=live}}
Composition
{{Listen
|filename= Lil Nas X Old Town Road.ogg
|pos= r
|title= "Old Town Road (Remix)"
|description=Sample of "Old Town Road (Remix)" featuring parts of Lil Nas X singing the chorus and Billy Ray Cyrus' verse, displaying the mixture of country and hip hop blended together to make the song}}
"Old Town Road" has been variously described by publications as a country rap,{{cite magazine |last1=Leight |first1=Elias |title='Old Town Road' by Lil Nas X Is Officially the Number One Song in America |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-number-one-hot-100-816584/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 9, 2019 |access-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190409184239/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-number-one-hot-100-816584/ |archive-date=April 9, 2019}}
- {{cite web |last1=Ivie |first1=Devon |title=Billboard Defends Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Removal from the Country Charts |url=https://www.vulture.com/2019/04/billboard-defends-lil-nas-xs-old-town-road-country-removal.html |website=Vulture |date=April 6, 2019 |publisher=New York Media |access-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406194401/https://www.vulture.com/amp/2019/04/billboard-defends-lil-nas-xs-old |archive-date=April 6, 2019}}
{{cite news|last1=Caramanica |first1=Jon |title=Lil Nas X's Smash Makes Country Wonder If Rap Is Friend or Foe. Again. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/arts/music/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-country-rap.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=April 11, 2019 |access-date=May 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190723181947/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/11/arts/music/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-country-rap.html |archive-date=July 23, 2019 }}
- {{cite web |last1=Ashrawi |first1=Sama'an |title=Before 'Old Town Road': The Evolution of Country Rap Tunes |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/04/evolution-of-country-rap-songs/ |website=Complex |access-date=May 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412181834/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/04/evolution-of-country-rap-songs/ |archive-date=April 12, 2019}} trap,{{cite news |last1=Gillespie |first1=Katherine |title=This Billy Ray Cyrus Remix of 'Old Town Road' Slaps |url=http://www.papermag.com/old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-2633780650.html |website=Paper |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190406133522/http://www.papermag.com/old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-2633780650.html |archive-date=April 6, 2019}}
- {{cite magazine |last=Spanos |first=Brittany |title=Song You Need to Know: Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus, 'Old Town Road (Remix)' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/old-town-road-remix-lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus-816658/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 5, 2019 |access-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190405211915/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/old-town-road-remix-lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus-816658/ |archive-date=April 5, 2019}}
- {{cite news |last=Butler |first=Bethonie |title=Billboard Tried to Fit 'Old Town Road' into a Neat Box. But That's Not How We Listen to Music Anyway. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/04/13/billboard-tried-fit-old-town-road-into-neat-box-thats-not-how-we-listen-music-anyway/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |publisher=Nash Holdings |access-date=May 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509221658/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/04/13/billboard-tried-fit-old-town-road-into-neat-box-thats-not-how-we-listen-music-anyway/ |archive-date=May 9, 2019}} pop,{{cite web|url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/audio/a28708811/old-town-road-algorithm/|title=Al Reveals How 'Old Town Road' Became the Biggest Song Ever|website=Popular Mechanics|first=Courtney|last=Linder|date=August 15, 2019|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412193454/https://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/audio/a28708811/old-town-road-algorithm/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/its-science-now-old-town-road-is-pop|title=IT'S SCIENCE NOW — 'OLD TOWN ROAD' IS POP|website=Mel|first=Eddie|last=Kim|date=September 5, 2019|access-date=April 12, 2020|archive-date=April 12, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200412193819/https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/its-science-now-old-town-road-is-pop|url-status=live}} country, rock Southern hip hop,{{cite web |last=Luckerson |first=Victor |title=Lil Nas X and the Costume of Country Rap |url=https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/4/10/18302094/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-southern-rap-country-trap-hick-hop |website=The Ringer |date=April 10, 2019 |access-date=April 11, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190410142401/https://www.theringer.com/music/2019/4/10/18302094/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-southern-rap-country-trap-hick-hop |archive-date=April 10, 2019}} or country trap song.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/04/lil-nas-x-i-100-want-to-represent-the-lgbt-community |title=Lil Nas X: 'I 100% want to represent the LGBT community |access-date=April 28, 2020 |work=The Guardian |date=April 4, 2020 |archive-date=November 25, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221125205024/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/apr/04/lil-nas-x-i-100-want-to-represent-the-lgbt-community |url-status=live }} Lil Nas X himself said that he regards it as the latter.{{cite web |last1=Yoo |first1=Noah |title=Billboard Removes Lil Nas X's Viral Song 'Old Town Road' from Country Chart |url=https://pitchfork.com/news/lil-nas-x-viral-hit-old-town-road-removed-from-billboard-hot-country-songs-chart/ |website=Pitchfork |date=March 27, 2019 |access-date=May 28, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331144550/https://pitchfork.com/news/lil-nas-x-viral-hit-old-town-road-removed-from-billboard-hot-country-songs-chart/ |archive-date=March 31, 2019}} Produced by YoungKio, "Old Town Road" samples Nine Inch Nails' track "34 Ghosts IV" from their sixth studio album Ghosts I–IV (2008). The song prominently features the playing of a banjo along with trap-style Roland TR-808 drums and bass throughout.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-810844/|title=Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Was a Country Hit. Then Country Changed Its Mind|author=Elias Leight|date=March 26, 2019|access-date=March 27, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone}}{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/how-lil-nas-xs-old-town-road-became-a-lightning-rod-for-race-the-charts-and-country-music/|title=How Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" Became a Lightning Rod for Race, the Charts, and Country Music|website=Pitchfork|date=April 2019|access-date=May 20, 2019|archive-date=January 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210110095242/https://pitchfork.com/thepitch/how-lil-nas-xs-old-town-road-became-a-lightning-rod-for-race-the-charts-and-country-music/|url-status=live}} It has been compared to Lil Tracy's 2018 single "Like a Farmer", which was later remixed by Lil Uzi Vert.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8504234/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-five-burning-questions|title=Five Burning Questions: Billboard Staffers Discuss Lil Nas X's Top 40 Breakout Hit 'Old Town Road'|magazine=Billboard|date=March 26, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019}}
The song is composed in the key of G{{sharp}} minor with a chord progression of G{{sharp}}m-Badd9-F{{sharp}}-C{{sharp}}m7. It has an approximate tempo of 68 beats per minute.{{Cite web|last=Kopf|first=Dan|url=https://qz.com/quartzy/1675326/kids-are-obsessed-with-the-record-breaking-old-town-road/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730000722/https://qz.com/quartzy/1675326/kids-are-obsessed-with-the-record-breaking-old-town-road/|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 30, 2019|title=One Secret To 'Old Town Road'{{'}}s Record-Breaking Success? Kids Are Obsessed With It|work=The Quartzy|date=July 29, 2019|access-date=August 19, 2019}}
Release and promotion
"Old Town Road" was released independently as a single on December 3, 2018; this was during the rise of the "Yeehaw Agenda" meme, a movement inspired by cowboy fashion and culture.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/welcome-to-the-yee-yee-club-bitch-805169/|title=Giddy Up! Here's What You Need to Know About the Yeehaw Agenda|date=March 8, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|author=Brittany Spanos}} Danny Kang, the manager of the viral country artist Mason Ramsey, suggested to Rolling Stone that Lil Nas X listed the song under the country music genre on SoundCloud and iTunes as a way to manipulate chart algorithms, as it would be easier to top the country charts than the dominant hip hop/rap charts. Lil Nas X began creating memes to promote "Old Town Road" before it was picked up by TikTok users. The song's first music video is composed entirely of footage and clips from the 2018 Western action-adventure game, Red Dead Redemption 2.{{cite web|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/04/09/apparently-old-town-road-i-got-the-horses-in-the-back-is-a-red-dead-redemption-2-music-video/|title=Apparently, 'Old Town Road (I Got The Horses In the Back)' Is A 'Red Dead Redemption 2' Music Video|last=Thier|first=David|work=Forbes|date=April 9, 2019|access-date=April 10, 2019|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411022812/https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidthier/2019/04/09/apparently-old-town-road-i-got-the-horses-in-the-back-is-a-red-dead-redemption-2-music-video/|url-status=live}}
The song gained traction in late December 2018 after becoming the "Yeehaw Challenge" meme on TikTok, where users created short videos set to the song. The challenge is credited with launching the song to enter the Billboard Hot 100 at number 83,{{Cite news|url=https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard/|title=Rapper Lil Nas X's Country-Trap Song Sets Billboard Record|work=XXL|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019|author=Marisa Mendez|archive-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313190036/https://www.xxlmag.com/news/2019/03/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard/|url-status=live}} the chart on which the song has since peaked at number one.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8506256/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-number-one-hot-100|title='Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" Leaps to No. 1 on the Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=April 8, 2019|access-date=April 8, 2019}} The song's popularity grew so quickly that radio stations had to download the audio from YouTube. On March 22, 2019, the success of the song allowed Lil Nas X to sign to Columbia Records, which now distributes the single.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/8502868/lil-nas-x-signs-columbia-records|title='Old Town Road' Rapper Lil Nas X Signs to Columbia Records|magazine=Billboard|date=March 22, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019|author=Tatiana Cirisano}}
The first official remix of "Old Town Road", featuring the American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, was released on April 5, 2019, by Columbia Records. The remix was recorded in support of "Old Town Road" being recognized as a country song.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/billy-ray-cyrus-lil-nas-x-old-town-road-remix-817457/|title=Billy Ray Cyrus Burnishes Lil Nas X's Country Credentials With 'Old Town Road' Remix|author=Elias Wright|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=April 3, 2019|access-date=April 4, 2019}} A limited edition 7-inch vinyl single was made available for purchase on May 1, 2019, with the remix on the A-side and the original on the B-side.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8509633/lil-nas-x-limited-edition-old-town-road-vinyl |title=Lil Nas X to Release Limited Edition 7-Inch 'Old Town Road' Vinyl Singles |last=Fernando |first=Madeleine |date=May 1, 2019 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=September 3, 2019}}
- {{Cite web |url=https://lilnasx.shop.musictoday.com/product/Y4NX02COMBO/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-7-single-download |title=Lil Nas X - Old Town Road 7" Vinyl + Download |date=May 1, 2019 |website=Lil Nas X Shop |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190502113844/https://lilnasx.shop.musictoday.com/product/Y4NX02COMBO/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-7-single-download |archive-date=May 2, 2019 |access-date=September 2, 2019}} The remix was eventually included with the original on Lil Nas X's second EP, 7. The music video for the remix was released on May 17, 2019. It was directed by Calmatic, and has guest appearances by Chris Rock, HaHa Davis, Rico Nasty, Diplo, Jozzy, Young Kio and Vince Staples.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/lil-nas-x-drops-star-studded-old-town-road-video-watch/|title=Lil Nas X Drops Star-Studded "Old Town Road" Video: Watch|date=May 17, 2019|access-date=September 24, 2019|website=Pitchfork|author=Evan Minsker|archive-date=July 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190729223915/https://pitchfork.com/news/lil-nas-x-drops-star-studded-old-town-road-video-watch/|url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Helman |first1=Peter |title=Lil Nas X - "Old Town Road" Video |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2044187/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-chris-rock-vince-staples-diplo-rico-nasty/news/ |website=Stereogum |language=en |date=May 17, 2019 |access-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-date=June 17, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210617042951/https://www.stereogum.com/2044187/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-chris-rock-vince-staples-diplo-rico-nasty/news/ |url-status=live }}
On March 29, 2019, Lil Nas X danced to "Old Town Road" with the Atlanta Hawks cheerleaders during a basketball game at State Farm Arena.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/hip-hop/8504854/lil-nas-x-steal-the-show-with-old-town-road-dance-at-atlanta-hawks-nba|title=Watch Lil Nas X Steal the Show With 'Old Town Road' Dance at Atlanta Hawks Game|magazine=Billboard|date=March 30, 2019|access-date=September 24, 2019|author=Mitchell Peters}} On April 29, 2019, Lil Nas X and Cyrus performed the live debut of "Old Town Road" as part of Diplo's set at the Stagecoach Festival.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2041557/old-town-road-stagecoach-diplo-lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus/video/|title=Watch Lil Nas X & Billy Ray Cyrus Perform With Diplo At Stagecoach|author=Julia Gray|website=Stereogum|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=September 24, 2019|archive-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924002218/https://www.stereogum.com/2041557/old-town-road-stagecoach-diplo-lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus/video/|url-status=live}} On June 24, 2019, Lil Nas X and Cyrus performed the song together on a saloon-themed stage for the 2019 BET Awards.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/bet-awards-2019-watch-lil-nas-x-and-billy-ray-cyrus-perform-old-town-road/|title=BET Awards 2019: Watch Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus Perform "Old Town Road"|access-date=September 24, 2019|date=June 24, 2019|author=Madison Bloom|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=September 24, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190924002218/https://pitchfork.com/news/bet-awards-2019-watch-lil-nas-x-and-billy-ray-cyrus-perform-old-town-road/|url-status=live}}
On January 26, 2020, Lil Nas X performed "Old Town Road" at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards with Diplo, BTS, Mason Ramsey and Billy Ray Cyrus, before finishing his performance with the remix of "Rodeo" along with Nas.
Music video
They are two music videos accompanying the song: the "Official Video" and an extended cut, the "Official Movie", released before the official video. Both videos are directed by Calmatic and contains guest appearances from Chris Rock, Haha Davis, Rico Nasty, Diplo, Jozzy, the song's producer YoungKio, and Vince Staples. It has accumulated over 718 millions of views on YouTube for the official movie and a billion views for its official video.{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=r7qovpFAGrQ|title=Lil Nas X - Old Town Road (Official Video) ft. Billy Ray Cyrus|date=July 19, 2019|access-date=April 7, 2025|website=YouTube}}{{Cite web|url=https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=w2Ov5jzm3j8|title=Lil Nas X - Old Town Road (Official Movie) ft. Billy Ray Cyrus|date=May 17, 2019|access-date=April 7, 2025|website=YouTube}} It won in 2020 the Grammy Award for Best Music Video.
Genre controversy
File:Billboard Logo 2013.svg chart after it debuted at number 19.{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/29/entertainment/lil-nas-x-country/|title=Lil Nas X is kicked off country chart, leading some to blame racism|author=Lisa Respers France|website=CNN|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-date=April 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190411205157/https://edition.cnn.com/2019/03/29/entertainment/lil-nas-x-country/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/lil-nas-x-viral-hit-old-town-road-removed-from-billboard-hot-country-songs-chart/ |title=Billboard Removes Lil Nas X's Viral Song "Old Town Road" from Country Chart |website=Pitchfork |author=Noah Yoo |date= March 27, 2019|access-date=July 6, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190706123102/https://pitchfork.com/news/lil-nas-x-viral-hit-old-town-road-removed-from-billboard-hot-country-songs-chart/ |archive-date= July 6, 2019}}]]
"Old Town Road" achieved a rare feat in Billboard history when it simultaneously charted on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts in March 2019.{{efn|While at least one source claims that this was the first instance, there has been at least one other song to achieve that: "We Are the World", which appeared on six charts simultaneously, the aforementioned three plus the dance, adult contemporary and rock charts.{{cite magazine|magazine=Billboard|pages=22, 23, 48, 54, 58, 70|title=Various song charts|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iyQEAAAAMBAJ|date=April 20, 1985|volume=97|issue=16|access-date=April 6, 2019}}}} However, Billboard quietly removed "Old Town Road" from its Hot Country chart for "not [embracing] enough elements of today's country music". Had it not been disqualified, "Old Town Road" would have been the Hot Country Songs number-one song, in the chart dated April 6, 2019.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/02/lil-nas-song-removed-from-billboard-not-country-enough|title=Lil Nas' song was removed from Billboard for not being 'country' enough. But who gets to decide categories?|work=The Guardian|last=Adjei-Kontoh|first=Hubert|date=April 2, 2019|access-date=April 3, 2019|archive-date=June 14, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190614221814/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/apr/02/lil-nas-song-removed-from-billboard-not-country-enough|url-status=live}} Lil Nas X said he was "extremely disappointed" by the decision.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/29/billboard-pulled-lil-nas-xs-viral-old-town-road-country-chart-it-ignited-controversy/|title=Billboard pulled Lil Nas X's viral 'Old Town Road' from the country chart. It ignited a controversy.|author=Emily Yahr|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=March 29, 2019|access-date=March 29, 2019|archive-date=November 30, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191130110243/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/03/29/billboard-pulled-lil-nas-xs-viral-old-town-road-country-chart-it-ignited-controversy/|url-status=live}} In an interview, Time reporter Andrew R. Chow brought up Billboard{{'}}s decision to remove "Old Town Road" from the country chart but to keep it on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, asking Lil Nas X if he considered "Old Town Road" a country song. Lil Nas X replied, "The song is country trap. It's not one, it's not the other. It's both. It should be on both [charts]."{{Cite magazine|url=https://time.com/5561466/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billboard/|magazine=Time|date=March 30, 2019|access-date=March 30, 2019|author=Andrew R. Chow|title=Lil Nas X on 'Old Town Road' and the Billboard Controversy}} Lil Nas X submitted the song for consideration in rap categories at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards; however, the award show's rap committee recategorized it in Best Pop Duo/Group Performance,{{cite web |last1=Fekadu |first1=Mesfin |title=And the Grammy nomination goes to... |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/grammy-nomination-67051446 |publisher=ABC News |date=November 15, 2019 |access-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-date=July 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714222513/https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory/grammy-nomination-67051446 |url-status=live }} where it ultimately won.
The exclusion of "Old Town Road" brought criticism of the evaluation of the work of non-white artists in the country genre, with the Rolling Stone writer Elias Leight referring to Beyoncé, another black artist, whose song "Daddy Lessons" failed to be considered a country song by The Recording Academy in 2016. Leight also pointed out other difficulties faced by black artists making cross-genre music, noting that the rapper Juice Wrld's Death Race for Love (2019) would "probably be the most commercially successful rock album of 2019", but would never appear on rock charts or playlists, another genre, like country, predominated by white artists. In the music journalist Robert Christgau's opinion, "Taking 'Old Town Road' off the country chart strikes me as racist pure and simple, because country radio remains racist regardless of the Darius Ruckers and Kane Browns it makes room for."{{cite web|last=Christgau|first=Robert|author-link=Robert Christgau|date=June 18, 2019|url=https://robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?d=2019-06-18|title=Xgau Sez|website=robertchristgau|access-date=June 19, 2019|archive-date=October 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019012225/https://robertchristgau.com/xgausez.php?d=2019-06-18|url-status=live}} In light of the criticism, Billboard later stated that the decision to remove "Old Town Road" from the Hot Country Songs chart had nothing to do with Lil Nas X's race. When asked if he believed the decision by Billboard had any racial undertones, Lil Nas X replied, "I believe whenever you're trying something new, it's always going to get some kind of bad reception."
Despite being removed from the main Country Songs chart, "Old Town Road" managed to chart on Billboard
Commercial performance
File:Billy Ray Cyrus VMA 2015.png (pictured), "Old Town Road" charted at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-setting nineteen weeks.]]
In the United States, the original version of "Old Town Road" reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in the week ending April 13, 2019;{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8506256/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-number-one-hot-100|title=Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Leaps to No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100|magazine=Billboard|url-access=subscription}} at one minute and 53 seconds in length, it became the shortest number-one single since "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" by Herman's Hermits in 1965 and the fifth-shortest in the history of the chart.{{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2039096/lil-nas-xs-old-town-road-is-the-second-shortest-1-single-of-all-time/news/|title=Lil Nas X's "Old Town Road" Is The Shortest #1 Single Since 1965|date=April 9, 2019|website=Stereogum|access-date=April 17, 2019|archive-date=April 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412221741/https://www.stereogum.com/2039096/lil-nas-xs-old-town-road-is-the-second-shortest-1-single-of-all-time/news/|url-status=live}} In the following week, it and the newly released remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus received a combined 143 million streams, surpassing Drake's "In My Feelings", which in the previous year had amassed 116.2 million in the same period, as the song with the highest single-week streaming figure in the country.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8507162/old-town-road-lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus-hot-100-number-one|title=Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road,' Featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, Spends Second Week at No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 with Record-Shattering Streams|magazine=Billboard|url-access=subscription}} This song also became Cyrus's biggest hit in the U.S. since "Achy Breaky Heart" peaked at number four on the Billboard Hot 100 27 years prior.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/hot-100/2019-08-17|title=Top 100 Songs {{!}} Billboard Hot 100 Chart|magazine=Billboard|access-date=August 16, 2019}} "Old Town Road" continued to exceed 100 million streams in each of the eight following weeks, and in June 2019, was responsible for the three highest weekly U.S. streaming totals in the history of digital music, as well as nine of the eleven highest overall.{{cite magazine |last=Trust |first=Gary |title=Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Tops Billboard Hot 100 for Ninth Week, the Most This Year, & DaBaby's 'Suge' Hits Top 10 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8514137/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-hot-100-number-one-ninth-week |magazine=Billboard |access-date=June 3, 2019 |url-access=subscription}} In October 2019, "Old Town Road" became the fastest single in RIAA history to receive diamond certification in the United States. The certification, which is awarded to singles that attain national combined sales and streams of ten million units, was achieved by the song in its eleventh month of release.{{cite web |last1=Wheat |first1=Lorraine |title=Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Is Certified Diamond |date=October 23, 2019 |url=https://variety.com/2019/music/news/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-certified-diamond-1203380313/ |website=Variety |access-date=November 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191023184350/https://variety.com/2019/music/news/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billy-ray-cyrus-certified-diamond-1203380313/ |archive-date=October 23, 2019 |url-status=live}} The single had sold 1.6 million digital copies in the United States by February 2020.{{cite web |last=Bjorke |first=Matt |title=Top 30 Digital Country Singles Sales Chart: March 2, 2020 |url=http://roughstock.com/news/2020/03/44155-top-30-digital-country-singles-sales-chart-march-2-2020 |work=Rough Stock |date=March 4, 2020 |access-date=March 14, 2020 |archive-date=April 4, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210404163252/http://roughstock.com/news/2020/03/44155-top-30-digital-country-singles-sales-chart-march-2-2020 |url-status=live }}
"Old Town Road" topped the Hot 100 for nineteen consecutive weeks from April 13 to August 17, 2019. On August 24, it was finally unseated by Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy" which had waited in the runner-up spot for nine nonconsecutive weeks. "Old Town Road"'s overall run at number one is the longest in chart history, surpassing the previous record of sixteen weeks achieved by both "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men (1995–96), and "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee featuring Justin Bieber (2017).{{cite magazine |last1=Trust |first1=Gary |date=August 12, 2019 |title=Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Leads Billboard Hot 100 for 19th Week, Ariana Grande & Social House's 'Boyfriend' Debuts in Top 10 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8527171/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-number-one-hot-100-19-weeks |magazine=Billboard |access-date=August 12, 2019 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190812191901/https://www.billboard.com/articles/business/chart-beat/8527171/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-number-one-hot-100-19-weeks |archive-date=August 12, 2019}} Its record has since been tied by "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" by Shaboozey, which achieved its nineteenth week on November 25, 2024.{{cite magazine |last1=Denis |first1=Kyle |last2=Lipshutz |first2=Jason |last3=Newman |first3=Melinda |last4=Nicholson |first4=Jessica |last5=Unterberger |first5=Andrew |title=How Did Shaboozey's 'A Bar Song' Make Hot 100 History? |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/shaboozey-a-bar-song-hot-100-history-five-burning-questions-1235840035/ |access-date=November 27, 2024 |magazine=Billboard |date=November 27, 2024}} In July 2019, "Old Town Road" also became the first number-one single on the Rolling Stone Top 100 chart when it held the position in the chart's inaugural edition.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/rs-charts-top-100-lil-nas-x-shawn-mendes-drake-847955/|title=RS Charts: Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Is Number One on Rolling Stone Top 100 Chart|date=July 2, 2019|access-date=July 3, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone}} In accordance with their methodologies, Billboard and Rolling Stone each assign a single position to "Old Town Road" on their respective charts by combining the performance figures of every released version of the song determined to be sufficiently similar to the original.{{cite news |last1=Abshire |first1=Emily |title=The Remix Race: Why It Pays to Release Songs More Than Once |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/07/18/743121439/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billie-eilish-bad-guy-remix-billboard-charts |website=NPR |date=July 18, 2019 |access-date=July 31, 2019 |archive-date=October 4, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191004143614/https://www.npr.org/2019/07/18/743121439/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-billie-eilish-bad-guy-remix-billboard-charts |url-status=live }}{{cite magazine |title=General Methodology of the Rolling Stone Charts |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/charts-methodology/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=July 2, 2019 |access-date=November 13, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702224502/https://www.rollingstone.com/charts-methodology/ |archive-date=July 2, 2019 |url-status=live}} The former publication credits the entirety of the song's chart run solely to the remix featuring Cyrus.
Elsewhere, the original version of the song topped the national singles charts in at least ten other countries — Australia (thirteen weeks),{{cite web |title=13 Weeks at #1 for Lil Nas X's Old Town Road |url=https://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/2019/13-weeks-at-1-for-lil-nas-x-s-old-town-road |website=ARIA Charts |publisher=Australian Recording Industry Association |access-date=August 15, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190723210516/https://www.ariacharts.com.au/news/2019/13-weeks-at-1-for-lil-nas-x-s-old-town-road |archive-date=July 23, 2019}} France and Norway (eight weeks each),* {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 31 mai |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 31 May |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=22 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816011457/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=22 |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |language=fr }}
- {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 07 juin |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 07 June |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=23 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816013405/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=23 |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |language=fr }}
- {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 28 juin |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 28 June |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=26 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804101019/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=26 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |language=fr }}
- {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 05 juillet |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 05 July |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=27 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816014329/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=27 |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |language=fr }}
- {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 12 juillet |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 12 July |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=28 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804104600/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=28 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |language=fr }}
- {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 19 juillet |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 19 July |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=29 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804101519/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=29 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |language=fr }}
- {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 26 juillet |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 26 July |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=30 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804101519/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=30 |archive-date=August 4, 2019 |language=fr }}
- {{cite web |title=Top singles (Téléchargement + streaming): 2019 – Semaine du 09 août |trans-title=Top Singles (Download + Streaming): 2019 – Week of 09 August |url=http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=32 |publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816020754/http://www.snepmusique.com/tops-semaine/top-singles-megafusion/?ye=2019&we=32 |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |language=fr }}{{cite web |title=Old Town Road – Lil Nas X |url=https://www.vglista.no/sanger/old-town-road/ |website=VG-Lista |publisher=IFPI Norge |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816034710/https://www.vglista.no/sanger/old-town-road/ |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |language=no}} Austria (six weeks);{{cite web |title=Lil Nas X – Old Town Road |url=https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Lil+Nas+X&titel=Old+Town+Road&cat=s |website=Austrian Charts |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=August 15, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190815225058/https://austriancharts.at/showitem.asp?interpret=Lil+Nas+X&titel=Old+Town+Road&cat=s |archive-date=August 15, 2019 |language=de}} Switzerland (five weeks),{{cite web |title=Lil Nas X – Old Town Road |url=http://swisscharts.com/song/Lil-Nas-X/Old-Town-Road-1852642 |website=Swiss Hitparade |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816035521/http://swisscharts.com/song/Lil-Nas-X/Old-Town-Road-1852642 |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |language=de}} Denmark, Germany and Ireland (four weeks each),{{cite web |last1=Ellegaard |first1=Christian |date=July 30, 2019 |title=Slår historisk rekord: Sådan har 20-årig fået det største hit i USA nogensinde |trans-title=Historical Record Breaks: Here's How a 20-Year-Old Achieved the Biggest Hit Ever in the USA |url=https://www.dr.dk/musik/slaar-historisk-rekord-saadan-har-20-aarig-faaet-det-stoerste-hit-i-usa-nogensinde |website=DR |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190730150527/https://www.dr.dk/musik/slaar-historisk-rekord-saadan-har-20-aarig-faaet-det-stoerste-hit-i-usa-nogensinde |archive-date=July 30, 2019 |language=da}}
- {{cite web |title=Lil Nas X – Old Town Road |url=https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-1852642 |website=Offiziele Deutsch Charts |publisher=GfK Entertainment |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626185319/https://www.offiziellecharts.de/titel-details-1852642 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |language=de}}
- {{cite web |last1=White |first1=Jack |title=Stormzy Claims the Highest New Entry on the Official Irish Singles Chart with Vossi Bop |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/stormzy-claims-the-highest-new-entry-on-the-official-irish-singles-chart-with-vossi-bop__26238/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190503143008/https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-news/stormzy-claims-the-highest-new-entry-on-the-official-irish-singles-chart-with-vossi-bop__26238/ |archive-date=May 3, 2019}} Portugal (three weeks),{{cite web |title=Lil Nas X – Old Town Road (Song) |url=https://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lil+Nas+X&titel=Old+Town+Road&cat=s |website=Portuguese Charts |publisher=Hung Medien |url-status=live |access-date=August 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816044453/https://portuguesecharts.com/showitem.asp?interpret=Lil+Nas+X&titel=Old+Town+Road&cat=s |archive-date=August 16, 2019}} and the United Kingdom (two weeks){{cite web |title=Official Singles Chart Results Matching: Old Town Road |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/old-town-road/ |website=Official Charts |access-date=August 14, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816040118/https://www.officialcharts.com/search/singles/old-town-road/ |archive-date=August 16, 2019}} — and charted within the top ten in more than five others.* {{cite web |title=IFPI ČR – Hitparáda |trans-title=IFPI CR – Hit Parade |url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D |website=IFPI Czech Republic |publisher=IFPI |access-date=August 16, 2019 |language=cs |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103013427/http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D |url-status=live }} Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100, choose Měsíc201904 and select Zobrazit (Display). - {{cite web |title=Suomen virallinen lista – Artistit | Lil Nas X | Old Town Road |trans-title=Official Finnish Lists – Artists | Lil Nas X | Old Town Road |url=https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/artistit/Lil+Nas+X/Old+Town+Road/ |website=Musiikkituottajat |publisher=IFPI Finland |access-date=August 23, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823070920/https://www.ifpi.fi/lista/artistit/Lil+Nas+X/Old+Town+Road/ |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |language=fi }}
- {{cite web |title=Official IFPI Charts: Digital Singles Chart (International) |url=http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |website=IFPI Greece |publisher=IFPI |access-date=August 16, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190429055915/http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |archive-date=April 29, 2019 }}
- {{cite web |title=מדיה פורסט – המצעד הישראלי השבועי |trans-title=Media Forest – The Weekly Israeli Hit Parade |url=https://www.mediaforest-group.com/weekly_charts.html#!#menu2 |website=Media Forest |access-date=August 16, 2019 |language=he |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190716070949/https://mediaforest-group.com/weekly_charts.html#! |archive-date=July 16, 2019 |url-status=dead }} Note: Change the year to 2019, change the week to 18 28-04-19 04-05-19, and select שירים מובילים - רדיו - בינלאומי (Top Songs – Radio – International).
- {{cite web |title=AirPlay – Top – Archiwum | 2019 – 03.08 – 09.08.2019 |url=http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/airplays/top/archiwum.php?year=2019&idlisty=3140#title |trans-title=Airplay – Top – Archives | 2019 – 03.08 – 09.08.2019 |website=ZPAV |access-date=August 16, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190816202947/http://bestsellery.zpav.pl/airplays/top/archiwum.php?year=2019&idlisty=3140 |archive-date=August 16, 2019 |language=pl }}
- {{cite web |title=Veckolista singlar, vecka 16 |trans-title=Weekly Singles List, Week 16 |url=https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2019&dspp=16 |website=Sverigetopplistan |access-date=August 17, 2019 |language=sv |archive-date=April 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426134032/https://www.sverigetopplistan.se/chart/41?dspy=2019&dspp=16 |url-status=live }} The remix featuring Cyrus achieved a record 19-weeks run at number one on the Canadian Hot 100,{{cite web |title='Old Town Road' Breaks The Record For The Most Weeks At No. 1 In Canadian History |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2019/08/07/old-town-road-breaks-the-record-for-the-most-weeks-at-no-1-in-canadian-history/#30c55d5f4129 |work=Forbes |first=Hugh |last=McIntyre |date=August 7, 2019 |access-date=October 24, 2019 |archive-date=October 24, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191024215600/https://www.forbes.com/sites/hughmcintyre/2019/08/07/old-town-road-breaks-the-record-for-the-most-weeks-at-no-1-in-canadian-history/#30c55d5f4129 |url-status=live }}{{better source needed|date=November 2019}} and peaked within the top five in more than five other markets.* {{cite web |title=IFPI ČR – Hitparáda |trans-title=IFPI CR – Hit Parade |url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D |website=IFPI Czech Republic |publisher=IFPI |access-date=August 23, 2019 |language=cs |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103013427/http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D |url-status=live }} Note: Change the chart to CZ – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100, choose 201917, and select Zobrazit (Display).
- {{cite web |title=Track Top-40: Uge 14 – 2019 |trans-title=Track Top-40: Week 14 – 2019 |url=http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=14&y=2019&list=t40 |website=Hitlisten.NU |publisher=IFPI Denmark |access-date=August 23, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190823060547/http://hitlisten.nu/default.asp?w=14&y=2019&list=t40 |archive-date=August 23, 2019 |language=da }}
- {{cite web |title=Official IFPI Charts: Digital Singles Chart (International) |url=http://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |website=IFPI Greece |publisher=IFPI |access-date=August 23, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509181346/https://www.ifpi.gr/digital_ien.html |archive-date=May 9, 2019 }}
- {{cite web |title=Classifiche: Top of the Music |trans-title=Rankings: Top of the Music |url=https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/3/2019/21 |website=Italian Music Industry Federation |publisher=IFPI |access-date=August 23, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190526055037/https://www.fimi.it/top-of-the-music/classifiche.kl#/charts/1 |archive-date=May 26, 2019 |language=it }} Note: If necessary, select Top signoli (Top Singles).
- {{cite web |title=IFPI ČR – Hitparáda |trans-title=IFPI CR – Hit Parade |url=http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D |website=IFPI Czech Republic |publisher=IFPI |access-date=September 1, 2019 |language=cs |archive-date=November 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201103013427/http://hitparada.ifpicr.cz/index.php?hitp=D |url-status=live }} Note: Change the chart to SK – SINGLES DIGITAL – TOP 100, choose 201918, and select Zobrazit (Display). Both versions of the song were credited as number-one singles in Belgium,{{cite web |title=Ultratop Singles: 2019 – 04/05/2019 (Flanders) |url=https://www.ultratop.be/nl/ultratop50/2019/20190504 |website=Ultratop |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190516005928/https://www.ultratop.be/nl/ultratop50/2019/20190504 |archive-date=May 16, 2019 |language=nl}}
- {{cite web |title=Ultratop Singles: 2019 – 22/06/2019 (Wallonia) |url=https://www.ultratop.be/fr/ultratop50/2019/20190622 |website=Ultratop |publisher=Hung Medien |access-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626185316/https://www.ultratop.be/fr/ultratop50/2019/20190622 |archive-date=June 26, 2019 |language=fr}} the Netherlands{{cite web |title=Dutch Single Top 100: 20/04/2019 |url=https://dutchcharts.nl/weekchart.asp?year=2019&date=20190420&cat=s |website=Dutch Charts |access-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190902055428/https://dutchcharts.nl/weekchart.asp?year=2019&date=20190420&cat=s |archive-date=September 2, 2019 |language=nl}} and New Zealand.{{cite web |title=Official Top 40 Singles: 01 July 2019 |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2019-06-28 |website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart |publisher=Recorded Music New Zealand |access-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190628223131/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4660 |archive-date=June 28, 2019}}
- {{cite web |title=Official Top 40 Singles: 15 April 2019 |url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/singles/2019-04-12 |website=The Official New Zealand Music Chart |publisher=Recorded Music New Zealand |access-date=September 2, 2019 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626183013/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/singles?chart=4619 |archive-date=June 26, 2019}}
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Side A
| title1 = Old Town Road
| note1 = featuring Billy Ray Cyrus
| length1 = 2:38
}}
{{Track listing
| headline = Side B
| title1 = Old Town Road
| note1 = original version
| length1 = 1:53
}}
Credits and personnel
Credits and personnel for "Old Town Road" and the four official remixes adapted from Tidal.{{cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/111624873|title=7 EP / Lil Nas X – TIDAL|date=June 21, 2019 |publisher=Tidal|access-date=August 28, 2019|archive-date=June 21, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190621053234/https://listen.tidal.com/album/111624873|url-status=live}}
{{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/108387338|title=Old Town Road (Diplo Remix) / Lil Nas X – TIDAL|date=April 29, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2019|publisher=Tidal|archive-date=August 28, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190828203327/https://listen.tidal.com/album/108387338|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/113105098|title=Old Town Road (Remix) / Lil Nas X – TIDAL|date=July 12, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2019|publisher=Tidal|archive-date=July 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190712045004/https://listen.tidal.com/album/113105098|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://listen.tidal.com/album/113962835|title=Old Town Road (feat. RM of BTS) (Seoul Town Road Remix) / Lil Nas X – TIDAL|date=July 24, 2019 |access-date=August 28, 2019|publisher=Tidal|archive-date=July 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727124142/https://listen.tidal.com/album/113962835|url-status=live}}
{{Div col}}
- Lil Nas X – lead artist, songwriter
- YoungKio – producer, songwriter
- Trent Reznor – producer, songwriter
- Atticus Ross – producer, songwriter
- Cinco – recording engineer
- Billy Ray Cyrus – featured artist, songwriter {{small|(remixes 1–3)}}
- Jocelyn "Jozzy" Donald – background vocals, songwriter {{small|(remixes 1–3)}}
- Andrew "VoxGod" Bolooki – vocal producer, mix engineer {{small|(remixes 1–3)}}
- Joe Grasso – engineer {{small|(remixes 1–3)}}
- Eric Lagg – mastering engineer {{small|(remixes 1–3)}}
- Diplo – re-mixer {{small|(remix 2)}}
- Young Thug – featured artist, songwriter {{small|(remix 3)}}
- Mason Ramsey – featured artist, songwriter {{small|(remix 3)}}
- Jake Owen – background vocals, songwriter {{small|(remix 3)}}
- Ernest K. Smith – songwriter {{small|(remix 3)}}
- A Bainz – recording engineer {{small|(remix 3)}}
- Shaan Singh – recording engineer {{small|(remix 3)}}
- Alex Tumay – vocal producer {{small|(remix 3)}}
- Joey Moi – vocal producer {{small|(remix 3)}}
- RM – featured artist, songwriter {{small|(remix 4)}}
{{Div col end}}
Awards and nominations
Listed below are awards and nominations for both "Old Town Road" and "Old Town Road (Remix)" featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
{{col-2}}
=Monthly charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ Monthly chart performance for "Old Town Road" (solo or featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) ! scope="col"| Chart (2019) ! scope="col"| Peak |
| scope="row"| Brazil Streaming (Pro-Música Brasil){{cite web|url=https://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/top-50-streaming/?top50sPeriodo=06/2019|title=Top 50 Streaming Junho de 2019|publisher=Pro-Música Brasil|language=pt|access-date=July 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190705040406/https://pro-musicabr.org.br/home/top-50-streaming/?top50sPeriodo=10%2F2018|archive-date=July 5, 2019|url-status=live}}
| 2 |
|---|
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |
| scope="col"| Chart (2021)
! scope="col"| Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| Global 200 (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2021/billboard-global-200/|title=Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2021|magazine=Billboard|access-date=December 3, 2021}}
| 74 |
=Decade-end charts=
=All-time charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
|+ All-time chart performance for !Chart !Position |
| scope="row"|US Billboard Hot 100{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/chart-beat/the-weeknd-blinding-lights-all-time-hot-100-1235001770/|title=The Weeknd & The Beatles Top Billboard's All-Time Hot 100 Charts|magazine=Billboard|last=Trust|first=Gary|date=November 23, 2021|access-date=December 6, 2021}}
| 41 |
|---|
{{col-end}}
Certifications
{{Certification Table Top}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Australia|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|type=single|award=Platinum|number=15|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|access-date=16 May 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Austria|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|access-date=March 24, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Belgium|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|access-date=January 8, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Diamond|number=3|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|access-date=May 12, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Brazil|artist=Lil Nas X feat. RM of BTS|title=Old Town Road (feat. RM of BTS)|award=Platinum|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2021|access-date=November 5, 2021|note=Seoul Town Road Remix}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Canada|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Diamond|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|access-date=August 9, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Denmark|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=3|id=12388|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2023|access-date=May 4, 2023}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=France|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Diamond|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|access-date=July 31, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Germany|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Diamond|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|access-date=August 29, 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Italy|type=single|title=Old Town Road|artist=Lil Nas X|award=Platinum|number=2|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|access-date=July 29, 2019|refname="fimi"}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Mexico|type=single|title=Old Town Road|artist=Lil Nas X|award=Diamond+Platinum+Gold|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|accessdate=3 May 2022}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Netherlands|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=3|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2019|access-date=October 21, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=New Zealand|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=8|type=single|relyear=2018|source=radioscope|access-date=January 27, 2025|certyear=2034}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2021|certweek=25|access-date=November 19, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Norway|artist=Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2021|note=Remix|access-date=November 19, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Poland|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Diamond|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2020|access-date=February 27, 2020}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Portugal|title=Old Town Road|artist=Lil Nas X|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|id=file_2021-09-30-11-05-18.pdf|accessdate=September 30, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Spain|artist=Lil Nas X / Billy Ray Cyrus|title=Old Town Road (Remix)|relyear=2019|certyear=2019|type=single|award=Gold|id=lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus-old-town-road-remix|access-date=July 17, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Switzerland|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=5|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2020|access-date=March 10, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United Kingdom|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=4|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2021|id=15621-4939-1|access-date=October 1, 2021}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=17|type=single|relyear=2018|certyear=2022|access-date=November 29, 2022|refname=RIAA}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=United States|type=single|award=Gold|artist=Lil Nas X|title=Old Town Road|relyear=2019|certyear=2023|access-date=June 8, 2023|note=Diplo Remix}}
{{Certification Table Separator|title=Streaming}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Sweden|artist=Lil Nas X feat. Billy Ray Cyrus|title=Old Town Road|award=Platinum|number=2|type=single|relyear=2019|certyear=2019|certweek=25|access-date=July 12, 2019}}
{{Certification Table Summary}}
{{Certification Table Entry|region=Worldwide|nocert=yes|salesamount=18,400,000|salesref={{cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/billie-eilish-bad-guy-ifpi-global-single-2019-list|title=Billie Eilish's 'Bad Guy' Named IFPI's Biggest Global Single of 2019|first=Tatiana|last=Cirisano|publisher=Billboard|date=March 10, 2020|access-date=March 11, 2020|archive-date=March 13, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200313003918/https://www.billboard.com/amp/articles/news/international/9331529/billie-eilish-bad-guy-ifpi-global-single-2019-list|url-status=live}}}}
{{Certification Table Bottom|streamsonly=true|nosales=true|noshipments=true|streaming=true}}
Other remixes and versions
{{multiple image
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| image1 = Diplo_2014_Press_Photo_(cropped).jpg
| alt1 =
| image2 = Young Thug in September 2021.png
| alt2 =
| footer = Diplo (left) and Young Thug (right) had each experimented with country music before their respective "Old Town Road" remixes
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The single's second official remix, "Old Town Road (Diplo Remix)", was released on April 29, 2019, with additional production by the American DJ Diplo. The country music website, The Boot, described it as a "remix of [a] remix" as it still retained vocals from Billy Ray Cyrus. The remix was premiered at Diplo's set for the country music Stagecoach Festival alongside the first-ever live performance of "Old Town Road" by Lil Nas X and Cyrus.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/country/8509025/old-town-road-remix-diplo-lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus-stagecoach-video|title=Diplo Debuts 'Old Town Road' Remix With Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus at Stagecoach 2019: Watch|author=Annie Reuter|magazine=Billboard|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/diplo-remixes-lil-nas-x-and-billy-ray-cyrus-old-town-road-listen/|title=Diplo Remixes Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus' "Old Town Road": Listen|author=Evan Minsker|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|website=Pitchfork|archive-date=August 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820002314/https://pitchfork.com/news/diplo-remixes-lil-nas-x-and-billy-ray-cyrus-old-town-road-listen/|url-status=live}} Just before Lil Nas X and Cyrus' surprise on-stage appearance at Stagecoach 2019, Diplo claimed. "Let me tell you, ["Old Town Road" is] a country song."{{Cite web|url=https://theboot.com/lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus-diplo-old-town-road-remix-stagecoach-2019-watch/|title=Lil Nas X, Billy Ray Cyrus + Diplo Reveal Another 'Old Town Road' Remix at Stagecoach 2019 [WATCH]|website=The Boot|author=Angela Stefano|date=April 29, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2019|archive-date=July 2, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702013435/https://theboot.com/lil-nas-x-billy-ray-cyrus-diplo-old-town-road-remix-stagecoach-2019-watch/|url-status=live}} The Diplo remix peaked at number 24 on the RMNZ New Zealand Hot Singles chart.{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2019-05-10|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=May 13, 2019|access-date=May 10, 2019|archive-date=May 10, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510050812/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4633|url-status=live}} The remix is included on Diplo's second studio album, Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley, Chapter 1: Snake Oil (2020).{{cite tweet|number=1252263102197886976|user=diplo|title=my kind of country will unite us all. Diplo Presents Thomas Wesley Chapter 1: Snake Oil Coming May 29. Pre sav… |date=April 20, 2020}}
A third official remix, titled "Old Town Road (Remix)", was released on July 12, 2019. It retains Cyrus' guest appearance and adds the American rapper Young Thug and the American singer Mason Ramsey. The remix was released in an effort to keep "Old Town Road" at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, as the song was two weeks away from tying for the all-time Hot 100 record held by "One Sweet Day" by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men and "Despacito" by Luis Fonsi featuring Daddy Yankee; it has since broken that record.{{cite magazine |last1=Anderson |first1=Trevor |title=Winner's Circle: Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road' Breaks Record With 17th Week Atop Billboard Hot 100 |url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8524235/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-longest-number-one-hot-100 |magazine=Billboard |access-date=July 30, 2019}}{{Cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/music/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-remix-young-thug-tease/|title=Lil Nas X Appears To Be Teasing Yet Another 'Old Town Road' Remix To Help The Song Stay At No. 1|author=Derrick Rossignol|date=July 11, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|website=Uproxx|archive-date=July 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190711221017/https://uproxx.com/music/lil-nas-x-old-town-road-remix-young-thug-tease/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/chart-beat/8519298/old-town-road-lil-nas-x-hot-100-record-most-weeks|title=Will 'Old Town Road' Break the All-Time Hot 100 Record? Everything You Need to Know About Lil Nas X's Historic No. 1 Run|magazine=Billboard|date=July 10, 2019|access-date=July 11, 2019|author=Andrew Unterberger}} In an interview with Billboard in March 2019, the producer YoungKio said that he would want Young Thug for a remix of "Old Town Road", saying, "I've listened to every single song of his, and I think he's qualified to do this remix. I've listened to Beautiful Thugger Girls, and he has some country vibes on there." Young Thug has been previously credited with bringing country trap into the mainstream with his experimental mixtape, Beautiful Thugger Girls (2017). Lil Nas X called him a pioneer of bridging the gap between country and trap.
The single's fourth official remix, "Old Town Road (Seoul Town Road Remix)", featuring the South Korean rapper RM of BTS was released on July 24, 2019. It is the only official remix to not feature Cyrus. Lil Nas X announced shortly afterwards that "Seoul Town Road" would be the final remix.{{cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/lil-nas-x-rm-bts-old-town-road-remix-2532170|title=Listen to Lil Nas X's epic 'Old Town Road' remix with RM of BTS|last=Ziweh|first=Puah|date=July 25, 2019|website=NME|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725055644/https://www.nme.com/news/music/lil-nas-x-rm-bts-old-town-road-remix-2532170|archive-date=July 25, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=July 25, 2019}} It reached number eight on the RMNZ New Zealand Hot Singles chart.{{cite web|url=https://aotearoamusiccharts.co.nz/archive/hot-singles/2019-08-30|title=NZ Hot Singles Chart|publisher=Recorded Music NZ|date=August 5, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190803003346/https://nztop40.co.nz/chart/hotsingles?chart=4730|archive-date=August 3, 2019|url-status=live|access-date=August 3, 2019}}
Fellow American country singer Jake Owen and fellow American rapper Lil Wayne both recorded verses for planned remixes that were unofficially released. Owen's remix was shared on The Bobby Bones Show in May 2019 and his verse was later replaced by Ramsey.{{cite tweet|number=1150773627081637893|user=jakeowen|title=It’s all good. 🤷🏽♂️ I’m glad ol’ Little Hank @masonramsey is a part of it. Just know I dropped them barrrrrrrrrrs |accessdate=August 29, 2019|date=July 15, 2019}} Lil Wayne's remix was leaked on July 25, 2019, and he performed it live at Lollapalooza the next month.{{Cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/07/lil-wayne-recorded-official-old-town-road-remix|title=Lil Wayne Says He Recorded an Official "Old Town Road" Remix|date=July 16, 2019|access-date=July 25, 2019|work=Complex|archive-date=July 25, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190725165634/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/07/lil-wayne-recorded-official-old-town-road-remix|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.stereogum.com/2052669/lil-waynes-nas-x-old-town-road-remix-leaks/music/|title=Lil Wayne's "Old Town Road" Remix Leaks|website=Stereogum|access-date=July 26, 2019|date=July 25, 2019|author=Peter Helman|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726073617/https://www.stereogum.com/2052669/lil-waynes-nas-x-old-town-road-remix-leaks/music/|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://onairwithryan.iheart.com/content/2019-08-04-lil-wayne-premieres-old-town-road-remix-verse-at-lollapalooza-watch/|title=Lil Wayne Premieres 'Old Town Road' Remix Verse At Lollapalooza: Watch|date=August 4, 2019|access-date=August 4, 2019|website=On Air with Ryan Seacrest|author=Katrina Nattress|archive-date=August 4, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190804235302/https://onairwithryan.iheart.com/content/2019-08-04-lil-wayne-premieres-old-town-road-remix-verse-at-lollapalooza-watch/|url-status=live}} The American rapper Cupcakke released her leaked remix of "Old Town Road", titled "Old Town Hoe", on April 17, 2019. The remix reinterprets the lyric "I'm gonna ride 'til I can't no more" in a sexually explicit way.{{Cite web|url=https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/04/cupcakke-old-town-road-remix/|title=CupcakKe turns in X-rated remix of "Old Town Road": Stream|date=April 18, 2019|website=Consequence of Sound|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=May 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190531024416/https://consequenceofsound.net/2019/04/cupcakke-old-town-road-remix/|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/cupcakke-old-town-road-lil-nas-x-remix-823744/|title=Hear Cupcakke's Filthy Remix of Lil Nas X's 'Old Town Road'|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|date=April 17, 2019|magazine=Rolling Stone|access-date=May 31, 2019}} A music video was released in May 2019 and has Cupcakke and her backup dancers riding toy horses and handling phallic objects, including lollipops, water bottles and corn on the cob.{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-cupcakkes-raunchy-new-old-town-hoe-video/|title=Watch CupcakKe's Raunchy New "Old Town Hoe" Video|website=Pitchfork|date=May 12, 2019|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=May 12, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512134950/https://pitchfork.com/news/watch-cupcakkes-raunchy-new-old-town-hoe-video/|url-status=live}}
- {{Cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/3123883/cupcakke-old-town-hoe-video/|title=CupcakKe Encourages You To Eat Your Veggies In 'Old Town Hoe' Video|last=Alston|first=Trey|website=MTV News|access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=October 22, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022054109/http://www.mtv.com/news/3123883/cupcakke-old-town-hoe-video/|url-status=dead}}
- {{Cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cupcakke-shares-predictably-lewd-video-174536980.html|title=CupcakKe shares predictably lewd video for "Old Town Hoe": Watch|website=Yahoo|date=May 12, 2019 |access-date=May 31, 2019|archive-date=June 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190626185316/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/cupcakke-shares-predictably-lewd-video-174536980.html|url-status=live}} Lil Nas X responded favorably to the remix.{{Cite web |date=May 14, 2019 |first=Trace William |last=Cowen |url=https://www.complex.com/music/2019/05/lil-nas-x-nardwuar-interview |title=Lil Nas X and Nardwuar Link for Hilarious Interview |website=Complex |access-date=May 31, 2019 |archive-date=November 8, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191108155808/https://www.complex.com/music/2019/05/lil-nas-x-nardwuar-interview |url-status=live }}
The actor-comedian Omi Vaidya parodied the song with "Oak Tree Road", a song about Asian Indian culture in the US.[http://nj1015.com/parody-of-old-town-road-celebrates-edisons-south-asian-culture/?trackback=twitter_mobile @nj1015 "Parody of 'Old Town Road' celebrates Edison’s South Asian culture"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200924175742/https://nj1015.com/parody-of-old-town-road-celebrates-edisons-south-asian-culture/?trackback=twitter_mobile |date=September 24, 2020 }}
- {{Cite web|url=http://newjersey.news12.com/story/41860575/gonna-head-on-down-to-oak-tree-road-lil-nas-x-parody-pays-homage-to-njs-south-asian-community|title='Gonna head on down to Oak Tree Road' – Lil Nas X parody pays homage to NJ's South Asian community|website=New Jersey News12|access-date=August 1, 2020|archive-date=March 6, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200306230436/http://newjersey.news12.com/story/41860575/gonna-head-on-down-to-oak-tree-road-lil-nas-x-parody-pays-homage-to-njs-south-asian-community|url-status=live}} Postmodern Jukebox also covered the song, doing it in the style of a New Orleans blues song. Miche Braden sang the lead vocals.Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/c0i3TwIHMmg Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20190624192159/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0i3TwIHMmg&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0i3TwIHMmg| title = Old Town Road Sung By Blues Legend Miche Braden (LiL Nas X Billy Ray Cover) | website=YouTube| date = June 14, 2019 }}{{cbignore}}
The song was featured in an episode of The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder, titled "Old Towne Road", with Lil Nas X guest starring as one of the voices. Rather than Billy Ray Cyrus' section of the song, the character of Bobby Proud, voiced by Cedric the Entertainer, joins in with newly written lyrics.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/lil-nas-x-the-proud-family-louder-and-prouder-1339642/|title=Lil Nas X Returns to His Country Roots With 'Old Town Road' Performance on 'The Proud Family'|magazine=Rolling Stone|last=Paul|first=Larisha|date=April 19, 2022|access-date=April 25, 2022}}
The song was included in "Weird Al" Yankovic's 2024 polka medley "Polkamania!".
See also
{{Div col}}
- List of best-selling singles in Australia
- List of number-one singles of 2019 (Australia)
- List of number-one hits of 2019 (Austria)
- List of Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles of 2019
- List of number-one hits of 2019 (Denmark)
- List of number-one hits of 2019 (Germany)
- List of number-one singles of the 2010s (Hungary)
- List of number-one singles of 2019 (Ireland)
- List of number-one singles from the 2010s (New Zealand)
- List of number-one songs in Norway
- List of number-one hits of 2019 (Switzerland)
- List of UK Singles Chart number ones of the 2010s
- List of Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles of 2019
- List of Billboard Hot 100 top 10 singles in 2019
- List of number-one dance airplay hits of 2019 (U.S.)
- List of Billboard Rhythmic number-one songs of the 2010s
- List of viral music videos
{{Div col end}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
{{Lil Nas X}}
{{Billy Ray Cyrus}}
{{Young Thug}}
{{Nine Inch Nails}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for "Old Town Road"
|titlestyle = background: lightblue
|list1 =
{{CMA Musical Event of the Year}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Music Video}}
{{Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance}}
{{MTV Video Music Award for Song of the Year}}
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{{Billboard Year-End number one singles 2000–2019}}
Category:Songs written by Lil Nas X
Category:Billy Ray Cyrus songs
Category:Songs written by Billy Ray Cyrus
Category:Songs written by Trent Reznor
Category:Songs written by Atticus Ross
Category:Canadian Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:Columbia Records singles
Category:Race-related controversies in music
Category:Irish Singles Chart number-one singles
Category:Music videos directed by Calmatic
Category:Number-one singles in Australia
Category:Number-one singles in France
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Number-one singles in Norway
Category:Number-one singles in Portugal
Category:2019 controversies in the United States
Category:Billboard Hot 100 number-one singles
Category:UK singles chart number-one singles
Category:Internet memes introduced in 2018
Category:Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video
Category:Grammy Award for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance