Lil Nas X's trap-fueled country track "Old Town Road" became the first song to ever appear simultaneously appear on the Billboard Hot 100, the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, and the Hot Country Songs chart.
Then Billboard removed it from the country chart, in a decision that seemed racially-tinged.
"Upon further review, it was determined that ‘Old Town Road’ by Lil Nas X does not currently merit inclusion on Billboard‘s country charts. When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition. While ‘Old Town Road’ incorporates references to country and cowboy imagery, it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music to chart in its current version," Billboard claimed.
Billy Ray Cyrus knows something about having his country bona fides questioned, as Nashville never really warmed to the "Achy Breaky Heart" star.
He supported X with a Tweet.
.@LilNasX Been watching everything going on with OTR. When I got thrown off the charts, Waylon Jennings said to me “Take this as a compliment” means you’re doing something great! Only Outlaws are outlawed. Welcome to the club!
— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) April 3, 2019
Then Cyrus jumped on an "Old Town Road" remix. Billy Ray x Nax X sounds like an even bigger hit and one that should be impossible for Billboard's country chart to ignore.
Here's some reaction to Miley's dad doing his thing.
Lil Nas X walking back onto the Country Billboard charts with his Billy Ray Cyrus approved remix of "Old Town Road" pic.twitter.com/iGpDCTsV3N
— Joe Anthony Myrick (@WamBamItsJAM) April 5, 2019
Lil Nas X and Billboard after he added Billy Ray Cyrus to the song pic.twitter.com/oYpmTFVQhY
— i write what i love (@thakeebman) April 5, 2019
I really like how the Old Town Road remix kinda has this narrative. Lil Nas X plays the newbie who's experiencing the rush for the first time, and Billy Ray Cyrus is the veteran who's paid his dues and lives comfortably but misses the good old days. Some A+ songwriting
— Zack Greenstein (@zgwizardzee) April 5, 2019
billboard: sorry not country enough
— Hamoo (@Hamoo1ven) April 5, 2019
billy ray cyrus: HOWDY
billboard: pic.twitter.com/3r3BKgsHP3
Billy Ray Cyrus: “Baby's got a habit, diamond rings and Fendi sports bras
— Tom Petrini (@RealTomPetrini) April 5, 2019
Ridin' down Rodeo in my Maserati sports car”
Me pic.twitter.com/MrdfudyIyS
Nobody:
— Assante Ndongo (@thatdarkboi) April 5, 2019
Me when Billy Ray Cyrus remix plays: pic.twitter.com/kpfxJLZxoG
live footage of me listening to the billy ray cyrus old town road remix for the ninth time this morning pic.twitter.com/MJ3QhiAwFp
— maya kosoff (@mekosoff) April 5, 2019
Me after listening to billy ray cyrus go off on old town road pic.twitter.com/Y2atxzCN31
— J (@JawadH99) April 5, 2019
Billboard: old town road doesn’t have enough elements of country music to chart
— organic shorty (@muvaearthh) April 5, 2019
Lil Nas X Billy Ray Cyrus: pic.twitter.com/vGC2Zaqw36
Hears Billy Ray Cyrus' verse on Old Town Road one time
— иαн 'и ℓαтα gαтσяѕ (@MrRandyWATTsun) April 5, 2019
Me for the rest of the day: pic.twitter.com/vt4GJaHIdl