Grammy Awards 2020: Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus Deliver Unforgettable ‘Old Town Road’ Performance
It was a big night for Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus! Not only were they early winners going…

Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X; Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy
It was a big night for Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus! Not only were they early winners going into the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards, but they also stole the show later in the evening with a star-studded performance of “Old Town Road.”
For the performance, which featured a revolving stage and plenty of backdrops, Lil Nas X and Cyrus brought in various artists who previously appeared on remixes of the hit song, including BTS, Diplo, Mason Ramsey.
Like many of the evening’s performances, “Old Town Road” began with a tribute to legendary Los Angeles Laker Kobe Bryant, who tragically died in a helicopter crash mere hours before the ceremony. Viewers and audience members watched as Lil Nas X plucked a mandolin adjacent from a jersey that featured Bryant’s numbers stitched on the back.
Afterward, the 20-year-old artist joined forces with the members of BTS to run through verses from the “Seoul Town Road” remix. He then met up with Diplo and Ramsey on a set designed to look like a pink barn. The viral sensation was, then, accompanied by Cyrus, who took center stage to deliver his famous lines from the smash hit. Before the performance ended, Lil Nas X traded out his country apparel for a Matrix-style suit and teamed up with his namesake, rapper Nas, who rapped a verse from Lil Nas X’s Cardi B-assisted “Rodeo.”
Lil Nas X received a total of six nominations going into the 2020 Grammys. During the pre-Grammy Awards celebration, he and Cyrus collected trophies for Best Music Video and Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for “Old Town Road” (Remix).
“Old Town Road” was a history-making song for Lil Nas X and Cyrus. The hit topped the Billboard chart for a record-breaking 17 weeks. Click on the video below to see clips of Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road All-Stars” performance.
https://youtu.be/uaZykJo-akk
Melinda Lorge is a Nashville-based freelance writer who specializes in covering country music. Along with Country Now, her work has appeared in publications, including Rare Country, Rolling Stone Country, Nashville Lifestyles Magazine, Wide Open Country and more. After joining Rare Country in early 2016, Lorge was presented with the opportunity to lead coverage on late-night television programs, including “The Voice” and “American Idol,” which helped her to sharpen her writing skills even more. Lorge earned her degree at Middle Tennessee State University, following the completion of five internships within the country music industry. She has an undeniable love for music and entertainment. When she isn’t living and breathing country music, she can be found enjoying time outdoors with family and friends.