Billy Ray Cyrus has given a shot of country cred to a country-tinged rap song that was booted from the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for not being country enough.
The remix of Lil Nas X’s viral smash “Old Town Road” debuted on Wednesday night and features Cyrus singing a couple of verses.
Billboard quietly removed the original version of the track from its country chart. “When determining genres, a few factors are examined, but first and foremost is musical composition,” read an explanation provided to Rolling Stone.
“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.”
Old Town Road.... the remix out now! @lilnasx pic.twitter.com/s0emFSzkHl
— Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) April 5, 2019
Cyrus reacted by tweeting at Lil Nas X. “Been watching everything going on with OTR,” he wrote. “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!”
No word yet from Billboard about whether the remix qualifies for the country chart.
Check it out below: