Rising star Lil Nas X continues to make history, scooping a nomination for the 2019 Country Music Awards.
It was announced today that the 20-year-old's record-breaking single 'Old Town Road', featuring Billy Rae Cyrus, has been nominated for 'Musical Event of the Year' - which is pretty notable for more than one reason.
First up, the song's genre-bending classification as country rap meant that it was earlier this year, with the magazine deciding that it didn't fit the country genre.
"Determining which chart a song lives on is an ongoing process that depends on a number of factors, most notably the song’s musical composition, but also how the song is marketed and promoted, the musical history of the artist, airplay the song receives and how the song is platformed on streaming services," Billboard .
"Billboard welcomes the excitement created by genre-blending tracks such as Lil Nas X’s 'Old Town Road' and will continue to monitor how it is marketed and how fans respond. Our initial decision to remove 'Old Town Road' from the Hot Country Songs chart could be revisited as these factors evolve."
Secondly, Lil Nas X has now become the first openly gay man to be nominated at the CMAs - a traditionally conservative ceremony for a traditionally conservative genre of music.
It's not the first time Lil Nas X has ruffled some feathers in the country music scene.
Last year, he and Cyrus by performing the their track at CMA Fest alongside Keith Urban - sparking debate around the definition of country music.
'Old Town Road' will face off against Maren Morris's 'All My Favorite People', Brooks & Dunn's 'Brand New Man', Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton's 'Dive Bar', and Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell's 'What Happens in a Small Town'.
