Lil Nas X Makes History As 1st Openly Gay Man To Win CMA Award

Lil Nas X, the first openly gay man to be nominated for a Country Music Association Award, made history again last night taking home the trophy for ‘Musical Event of the Year’ with Billy Ray Cyrus for their mega-hit, “Old Town Road.” “I wasn’t sure if this was going to able to take place tonight,” Lil Nas X said afterward reports USA Today. “I am so happy this was accepted because it is the bridging of two completely polar opposite genres put together. I’m just happy, you know, it has gotten respect in both communities.”

LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 🐎⚡️ https://t.co/QjcZTvp09h

— nope (@LilNasX) November 13, 2019

The song got off to a rocky start with the country music industry. “Old Town Road” reached #19 on Billboard‘s “Hot Country Songs” chart before removing the song for not being ‘country’ enough. The massive hit went on to sit at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-setting 19 consecutive weeks. Equally stunning was the song’s continued success within the country music world after Lil Nas X came out as gay in June.