Record-Breaking 2019 Hit Named Best Country-Rap Collaboration of All Time
Country and Rap are two genres that are usually at odds, but we've seen plenty of artists blend them together. In recent memory, we've seen country music's biggest star, Morgan Wallen, have success with this, collaborating with Lil Durk on "Broadway Girls" and Moneybagg Yo on "Whiskey Whiskey." Shaboozey turned himself into a household name by interpolating J-Kwon's iconic club hit "Tipsy" into a country song by the same name, tying the record for longest consecutive run at No.1 on the charts. That run tied Lil Nas X's single featuring Billy Ray Cyrus, "Old Town Road (Remix)," which Complex chose as their best Country-Rap collaboration of all time.
Old Town Road's Creation
For a song that spent a record-breaking 19 weeks at number one on the charts, its creation was very simple. Lil Nas X leased the beat for $30 and then spent only $20 on studio time to record the song, taking advantage of a Tuesday sale at the studio. He told CBS that the lyrics just came to him when he heard the beat, adding that he had never even ridden a horse.
"I'm just following the melody of the beginning, and then the line just comes to me," said Lil Nas X. "Yeah, I'm gonna take my horse to Old Town Road."
Why Did Billy Ray Cyrus Join the Remix?
When the song first charted, it was on the Country charts, where it peaked at No.19. Before it had a chance to reach number one, Billboard removed the song from the chart, deeming it not country enough. Lil Nas X didn't really understand why, since many other songs had non-country qualities.
"So I'm just counting my blessings […] and then, you know, I guess I take a peek at some of the other songs on the chart, on the country chart, and obviously [they] have hip-hop influence in them."
In response to being told that the song wasn't country enough, Lil Nas X found a way to stick it to Billboard. Country music star, Billy Ray Cyrus, famous for his single "Achy Breaky Heart" and for being Miley Cyrus' father, joined the remix of the song. Even though Billy Ray thought the song was already "perfect," he worked with Lil Nas X and songwriter Jozzy to write his verse for the remix.
"Old Town Road" had already reached No.1 on the Hot 100, but Billy Ray's name value helped cement the song as a country hit and gave it the boost it needed to break the record for longest No.1 hit. Its 19-week run smashed the previous record, which was 16 weeks, held by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men's "One Sweet Day" and Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee's "Despacito."
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 2:30 AM.