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Lil Nas X is the first gay man to get a Country Music Award nomination

Old Town Road album art
Photo: Album art

Lil Nas X has become the first out gay man to be nominated for a Country Music Award. His song “Old Town Road,” featuring country legend Billy Ray Cyrus, was nominated for Musical Event of the Year.

“Old Town Road” has spent 19 weeks at the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, the longest for any record ever. The song made it to #19 on Billboard‘s country music chart earlier this year before getting kicked off for not being country enough spurring accusations of racism.

The nomination may suggest that the notoriously conservative genre of music is opening up to people who don’t look like the stereotype of a country music performer.

Related: Lil Nas X had the best clapbacks to all the homophobic hate he’s gotten since coming out

Over the weekend, Lil Nas X took home the award for Song of the Year at the Video Music Awards for “Old Town Road,” making him the first out musician to win that award.

When accepting his award, he took out a long scroll that he said had his speech on it – and, of course, the singer who made his fame with memes and internet laughter won the web again with his stunt.

 

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