Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll Channel John Denver in Forthcoming Track, ‘Lonely Road’
Is MGK in his country era?
MGK, Jelly Roll; Photos via Instagram
Is Machine Gun Kelly (MGK) going country? The versatile artist has teamed up with Jelly Roll for an upcoming collaboration titled “Lonely Road,” which pays homage to the classic John Denver hit, “Take Me Home, Country Roads.”
MGK teased the song on social media on Thursday afternoon (July 18), offering fans a glimpse of the tune and what’s assumed to be the soon-to-be-released music video.
The Song Samples “Take Me Home, Country Roads”
The song appears to be a play on “Take Me Home, Country Roads” as it samples the melody of the track, which was released in 1971. Since then, the song has been covered by numerous artists, including Olivia Newton-John. More recently, it was sampled by Kane Brown and Restless Road on “Take Me Home.”
In the MGK/Jelly Roll version, MGK sings, “Lonely Road/ Take me home, Take me home/ Lonely Road.”
Jelly Roll’s Wife, Bunnie XO, Will Appear In The Music Video
The video clip begins with Jelly Roll kissing his wife, Bunnie XO, seemingly to console her. It then quickly cuts to a shot of MGK being thrown onto the hood of a car and handcuffed. The scene then transitions to a funeral setting, where a group of people dressed in black are gathered, looking down into a grave. Before the video fades to the title, “Lonely Road,” MGK and Jelly Roll are seen walking ominously outside, both dressed in black.
“Countdown to KellyRoll activated. 🚧 thanks to John Denver for paving the way,” MGK captioned the post.
Bunnie XO was quick to share her excitement in the comments section, writing, “Let’s gooooo 🔥🔥.”
Fans also shared their excitement for the collaboration. One fan declared that MGK is the “most versatile artist out there,” while another celebrated, “mgk’s country era is here.”
“Lonely Road” will officially be released on July 26.
MGK Recently Performed In Nashville
Last month, MGK popped up in Nashville during CMA Fest where the alt-rock/rapper made an appearance at Spotify House performing songs such as “Bloody Valentine” and “Forget Me Too.” He also delivered a cover of The Chicks’ “There’s Your Trouble” and teamed up with Jelly Roll to perform “Need A Favor.”
Zach Bryan Cover
Recently, he shared a cover of Zach Bryan’s “Sun To Me.” The live performance, which was shared on YouTube, has raked in over 3.4 million views in just three weeks.
MGK’s cover of “Sun To Me” debuted at No. 44 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs Chart earlier this month, marking his first appearance on the list of the most-consumed country tracks in the U.S.
The multi-genre singer isn’t the only star to crossover into country music this year, following Beyoncé’s country-influenced album, Cowboy Carter, and Post Malone, who will release his debut country record, F-1 Trillion, on August 16.
MGK is no stranger to country music. He is often seen hanging out with chart-topping country star Dustin Lynch and earlier this year, he paid a visit to the iconic Grand Ole Opry.
It’s unclear if he has plans to release a full-length country project at this time, however, there’s a good chance that it might happen.
Lauren Jo Black is a longtime country music journalist, editor, host, and media personality whose work has helped shape the conversation around country music for nearly two decades. As the current Editor-in-Chief of Country Now, she has become one of the genre’s most respected voices, interviewing hundreds of country music’s biggest stars, including Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Reba McEntire, Shania Twain, Randy Travis, Luke Bryan, Carrie Underwood, Blake Shelton, Luke Combs, and countless others. Over the course of her career, Black’s written work and interviews have reached billions of country music fans worldwide. A 2009 graduate of the University of Central Florida, Black began her career by founding Country Music Is Love, one of country music’s earliest independent digital publications, which she later sold to a major record label in 2015 before it was rebranded as Sounds Like Nashville. She then served as the publication’s Editor-in-Chief for more than two years. Her work has also appeared in Forbes, and she previously served as the Country Music Expert for Answers.com. Widely recognized for her expertise, Black has appeared as a featured guest on The Bobby Bones Show, BobbyCast, and Scripps News Morning Rush, providing insight on country music’s biggest moments. She has also hosted Country Now Live, a concert series featuring performances from artists including Lady A, Dierks Bentley, Riley Green, Jordan Davis, Dustin Lynch, Gabby Barrett, Brett Young, Jon Pardi, Kip Moore, Chris Young, and more. The series has welcomed thousands of fans in person while reaching millions more online. In addition, she hosted Connect With Country Now, a weekly interview series featuring conversations with rising country stars. Throughout her career, Black has earned a reputation for discovering and championing artists long before they become household names. She has covered Luke Bryan since the early days of his career, beginning when he was writing songs for other artists, including Billy Currington’s No. 1 hit “Good Directions,” before stepping into the spotlight with his debut single, “All My Friends Say” and eventually becoming one of biggest names in music. She also gave Megan Moroney her first opportunity to walk a major red carpet as Country Now’s official guest correspondent at the 2022 CMA Awards. An interview she conducted in 2018 for Forbes.com with Luke Combs that inspired his multi-week No. 1 hit, “Doin’ This.” She has also hosted stages at CMA Fest, moderated an industry panel at Country Radio Seminar, and helped lead important conversations about the evolving landscape of country music media. Beyond journalism, Black has also used her platform to support charitable causes and highlight organizations making an impact. Through Country Now Live, she has helped raise awareness and support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, while also advocating for animal rescue through Country Now’s Pupdate series, spotlighting organizations including MuttNation Foundation, Wags & Walks, and Proverbs 12:10 Animal Rescue. Black has been recognized as one of Country Aircheck’s Women of Influence and received the 2012 Rising Star Award from the University of Central Florida. She is a longtime member of both the Country Music Association (CMA) and the Academy of Country Music (ACM). After nearly 20 years covering country music, Lauren Jo Black has spent her career telling the stories behind the artists, songs, and moments that have shaped the genre. Her first-ever book, Country Music Forever: An A-to-Z Celebration of Icons, Songs and Stories, brings that same passion and firsthand knowledge to the page, celebrating not only the legendary artists and timeless songs that have become the soundtrack to generations of fans, but also the places, traditions, and cultural moments that have made country music one of the most beloved genres around the world.
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