"Old Town Road" is the debut single from American rapper Lil Nas X, released independently in December 2018 and later by Columbia Records in March 2019. The song gained significant popularity and a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus was released in April 2019. Both versions were included on Lil Nas X's second EP, "7", released later that year.
1965: "I'm Henry VIII, I Am" Sets a Chart Record
Herman's Hermits' "I'm Henry VIII, I Am," released in 1965, held the record for one of the shortest number-one singles on the Billboard Hot 100 before "Old Town Road."
1995: "One Sweet Day" and "Despacito" Set Chart Records
Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" (1995-1996) and Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito" (2017), featuring Justin Bieber, previously held the record for the longest reign at number one on the Billboard Hot 100, with sixteen weeks each.
2016: Beyoncé's "Daddy Lessons" Denied Country Song Status
In 2016, Beyoncé's "Daddy Lessons" faced a similar fate as "Old Town Road," as The Recording Academy declined to categorize it as a country song. This incident highlighted the challenges faced by Black artists seeking recognition in genres traditionally dominated by white artists.
2017: "Despacito" Ties Chart Record
Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito," featuring Justin Bieber, tied the record for the longest reign at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2017, matching the sixteen-week run of "One Sweet Day."
2017: Young Thug's Mixtape Pioneers Country Rap
Young Thug's experimental mixtape "Beautiful Thugger Girls," released in 2017, played a significant role in bringing country rap and its subgenre, country trap, into the mainstream.
2017: Beautiful Thugger Girls Release
Young Thug, known for blending country and trap music, released his experimental mixtape "Beautiful Thugger Girls" in 2017.
May 2018: Lil Tracy and Lil Uzi Vert Release "Like a Farmer (Remix)"
Building on the emergence of country rap, Lil Tracy and Lil Uzi Vert released their country rap single "Like a Farmer (Remix)" in May 2018, further fueling the trend.
October 2018: Lil Nas X Discovers "Old Town Road" Beat and Begins Writing
In October 2018, Lil Nas X discovered the beat that would become "Old Town Road." Facing pressure from his family to move out, he began writing the song, initially channeling his frustrations into the lyrics.
December 3, 2018: Release of "Old Town Road" Amidst "Yeehaw Agenda"
On December 3, 2018, as the "Yeehaw Agenda" meme, celebrating cowboy culture, gained momentum, Lil Nas X independently released "Old Town Road" as a single.
December 4, 2018: Lil Nas X Expresses Interest in Collaboration with Billy Ray Cyrus
Just two days after releasing the original version, Lil Nas X publicly expressed his desire to have Billy Ray Cyrus, known for his role in "Hannah Montana," on a remix of "Old Town Road."
December 2018: "Old Town Road" and the Rise of the "Yeehaw Challenge"
In December 2018, "Old Town Road" became the soundtrack to the viral "Yeehaw Challenge" on TikTok, propelling the song to unexpected heights and setting the stage for its chart domination.
December 2018: YoungKio Discovers Nine Inch Nails Sample and Creates "Old Town Road" Beat
A year prior to the song's release, YoungKio stumbled upon Nine Inch Nails' "34 Ghosts IV" and decided to sample it. He transformed the sample, added drums, and created the beat without any intention of it being country-related. Lil Nas X later purchased this beat for $30.
2018: Creation and Inspiration of "Old Town Road"
In 2018, Dutch producer YoungKio created the instrumental for "Old Town Road" using a sample from Nine Inch Nails' "34 Ghosts IV". Lil Nas X, facing personal struggles after dropping out of college, purchased the beat and recorded the song in a single day, drawing inspiration from his experiences.
March 2019: "Old Town Road" Enters Billboard Charts and Sparks Country Music Debate
In March 2019, "Old Town Road" gained significant traction, entering the Billboard charts and reaching number 19 on the Hot Country Songs chart. However, Billboard removed it, stating it didn't fit the country genre, igniting a debate about the definition of country music. Despite this, the song topped the Billboard Hot 100.
March 2019: "Old Town Road" Achieves Cross-Genre Charting
In March 2019, "Old Town Road" made history by simultaneously appearing on the Billboard Hot 100, Hot Country Songs, and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs charts, a testament to its genre-bending sound and widespread appeal.
March 2019: YoungKio expresses desire for Young Thug remix
In March 2019, producer YoungKio revealed his hope for a Young Thug remix of "Old Town Road" in a Billboard interview.
March 16, 2019: Billy Ray Cyrus Hears "Old Town Road" for the First Time
On March 16, 2019, Billy Ray Cyrus was introduced to "Old Town Road" by his wife, Tish Cyrus. He instantly connected with the song, drawing parallels to his childhood experiences in Kentucky.
March 22, 2019: Lil Nas X Signs to Columbia Records
On March 22, 2019, riding the wave of "Old Town Road"'s success, Lil Nas X secured a record deal with Columbia Records, marking a significant step in his career.
April 5, 2019: Release of "Old Town Road" Remix with Billy Ray Cyrus
On April 5, 2019, Lil Nas X released a remix of "Old Town Road" featuring American country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.
April 6, 2019: "Old Town Road" Removed from Billboard's Hot Country Chart
Despite its crossover appeal, "Old Town Road" was removed from Billboard's Hot Country chart on April 6, 2019, for not meeting the genre's criteria. This decision sparked controversy and ignited discussions about race and genre classification in the music industry.
April 13, 2019: "Old Town Road" Tops the Billboard Hot 100
On April 13, 2019, "Old Town Road" reached the pinnacle of the Billboard Hot 100 chart, claiming the number one spot and making history as one of the shortest songs to achieve this feat.
April 17, 2019: Cupcakke Releases "Old Town Hoe"
Cupcakke released her remix, "Old Town Hoe," on April 17, 2019. The remix, known for its explicit lyrics and imagery, received a positive response from Lil Nas X.
April 29, 2019: Live Debut of "Old Town Road" at Stagecoach Festival
Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus made their live debut performance of "Old Town Road" during Diplo's set at the Stagecoach Festival on April 29, 2019, marking a significant milestone for the song.
May 1, 2019: Release of Limited Edition Vinyl
On May 1, 2019, a limited edition 7-inch vinyl single of "Old Town Road" was released, featuring the Billy Ray Cyrus remix on the A-side and the original track on the B-side, catering to fans and collectors.
May 2019: Jake Owen Remix and "Old Town Hoe" Music Video
May 2019 saw two notable events surrounding "Old Town Road" remixes: Jake Owen's verse was shared on The Bobby Bones Show (later replaced by Mason Ramsey), and Cupcakke released a music video for "Old Town Hoe".
May 17, 2019: Premiere of "Old Town Road" Remix Music Video
The music video for the "Old Town Road" remix, directed by Calmatic, was released on May 17, 2019, featuring a star-studded lineup of cameos, including Chris Rock, HaHa Davis, Rico Nasty, Diplo, Jozzy, Young Kio, and Vince Staples.
June 2019: "Old Town Road" Breaks Streaming Records
By June 2019, "Old Town Road" had shattered streaming records, becoming responsible for three of the highest weekly U.S. streaming totals in digital music history.
June 24, 2019: "Old Town Road" at the 2019 BET Awards
Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus brought "Old Town Road" to the stage at the 2019 BET Awards on June 24, 2019, performing the hit song on a saloon-themed set.
July 12, 2019: Old Town Road (Remix)
On July 12, 2019, "Old Town Road" received its third official remix, this time adding Young Thug and Mason Ramsey to the existing remix with Billy Ray Cyrus.
July 2019: "Old Town Road" Tops the Rolling Stone Top 100
In July 2019, "Old Town Road" made history again by becoming the first number-one single on the inaugural Rolling Stone Top 100 chart.
July 24, 2019: Old Town Road (Seoul Town Road Remix)
Released on July 24, 2019, the "Seoul Town Road Remix" featured BTS's RM and marked the final official remix of "Old Town Road". Notably, it was the only official remix without Billy Ray Cyrus.
July 25, 2019: Lil Wayne's "Old Town Road" Remix Leaks
Lil Wayne's remix of "Old Town Road" was leaked on July 25, 2019. He later performed the remix live at Lollapalooza.
August 17, 2019: "Old Town Road"'s Reign Ends
After a record-breaking nineteen consecutive weeks at number one, "Old Town Road" was dethroned from the Billboard Hot 100 on August 17, 2019, by Billie Eilish's "Bad Guy."
October 2019: "Old Town Road" Achieves Diamond Certification and Receives Grammy Awards
In October 2019, "Old Town Road" was certified diamond by the RIAA for selling 10 million units in the US, becoming the fastest song to achieve this milestone. The remix with Billy Ray Cyrus won Best Pop Duo/Group Performance and Best Music Video at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards.
October 2019: "Old Town Road" Earns Diamond Certification
In October 2019, "Old Town Road" achieved diamond certification from the RIAA, a testament to its massive popularity and sales exceeding 10 million units.
2019: Juice Wrld's Genre-Bending Success
Music journalist Robert Christgau cited rapper Juice Wrld's 2019 album, "Death Race for Love," as an example of genre-bending success that often goes unrecognized in traditional genre categories.
January 26, 2020: "Old Town Road" at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards
On January 26, 2020, Lil Nas X graced the stage at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, delivering a memorable performance of "Old Town Road" alongside Diplo, BTS, Mason Ramsey, and Billy Ray Cyrus. He concluded his set with the remix of "Rodeo," featuring Nas.
February 2020: "Old Town Road" Sales Figures
By February 2020, "Old Town Road" had sold an impressive 1.6 million digital copies in the United States, solidifying its status as a chart-topping hit.
September 2021: "Old Town Road" Sets New Certification Record
In September 2021, "Old Town Road" achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the second-highest certified song in history by the RIAA, reaching 16x platinum in the US, signifying 16 million equivalent song units sold.