Billy Ray Spills Truth on Lil Nas X’s Weird Recording Demands

If there’s one thing the music industry loves, it’s an unlikely duo. Few collaborations felt more surprising—or more game-changing—than when Billy Ray Cyrus and Lil Nas X joined forces for Old Town Road. The song smashed streaming records, broke genre barriers, and spawned countless memes. Yet, behind the scenes, the partnership was more than just viral gold. In a recent interview, Billy Ray offered a refreshingly candid look at what it was really like working with one of music’s most unpredictable stars, calling the experience “a little weird, but really good.”

This isn’t just a story about two artists recording a song. It’s about a cultural moment that refused to be ignored—and the very human dynamics that powered it. Let’s break down what Billy Ray Cyrus had to say about Lil Nas X, why it matters, and how it continues to influence music today.

The Strange Magic of Old Town Road

By now, Old Town Road feels almost mythic. A sleeper hit turned unstoppable juggernaut, it did the impossible: a young, internet-savvy rapper teamed with a veteran country star to create a track that sat at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 for a record-breaking 19 weeks.

But while fans saw the glossy finished product, Billy Ray Cyrus says the process was anything but conventional.

“It was a little weird at first,” he admitted, laughing. “But you know what? That kid’s got real vision.”

Billy Ray’s tone is equal parts bemused and respectful. He’s not pretending it was all smooth sailing. According to him, Lil Nas X brought a “different kind of energy” to the studio.

“He has these ideas that sound wild when he first says them,” Billy Ray explained. “But then he’ll show you exactly how it’s gonna work. He’s not just throwing things out there. He’s got the plan in his head already.”

Creative Clashes or Creative Chemistry?

Billy Ray Cyrus is no stranger to collaboration. He’s worked with plenty of musicians across genres over the decades. But even he admits that Lil Nas X’s approach caught him off guard.

“We’d be sitting there talking about the song, and he’d say something that just made no sense to me. Like he’d be talking about memes, TikTok trends, what people would remix. I was like, ‘Is this even music anymore?’”

Yet Cyrus is quick to add that these moments weren’t disagreements in the bad sense. Rather, they were collisions of two completely different worlds.

“He didn’t just want a song. He wanted an entire moment,” Billy Ray said. “That’s what made it work. I could bring in the old-school feel, the guitar, that country vibe. He brought this whole new culture.”

The Unlikely Bond

Though their work style was unusual, Billy Ray Cyrus insists it wasn’t contentious. He describes Lil Nas X as “a good guy” who showed real respect—even if he did things differently.

“He’s polite. He listens. But he’s stubborn about his vision,” Billy Ray explained. “Which I respect. Because if you’re gonna do something new, you better know what you want.”

There’s a note of genuine affection in his voice. He seems to admire Lil Nas X’s hustle, even if he still doesn’t fully understand some of the methods.

“He’ll say, ‘Trust me, people will go nuts for this.’ And I’m sitting there like, ‘Really?’ But he’s been right every time.”

The Legacy of Old Town Road

It’s easy to forget now, but Old Town Road wasn’t just a chart-topping single. It forced conversations about genre, race, and the very definition of country music. Even without delving into any charged territory, Billy Ray Cyrus says he saw firsthand how people resisted the track’s success.

“Some folks didn’t want to call it country,” he said. “But it’s a country song. It’s got the guitar, the storytelling. Just because it sounded different or because he promoted it online in a new way doesn’t mean it wasn’t country.”

Billy Ray credits Lil Nas X’s relentlessness for making the industry pay attention. “He wouldn’t let them ignore it. That’s what I loved. He knew exactly what he was doing. He made them listen.”

A Studio Session Like No Other

Billy Ray Cyrus didn’t go into detail about every aspect of the recording session, but he did share a few stories that highlight Lil Nas X’s unusual creative process.

“He’s got this phone with a million notes and memes on it,” Billy Ray said. “He’s scrolling through, showing me things like, ‘This is what I want people to feel. This is the vibe.’ I’m an old-school guy. I’m used to talking about chords and lyrics. But he was on another level.”

At first, Billy Ray admits, he thought it was just distraction.

“I’m like, ‘Can we just play the song?’ But he was teaching me. He was showing me that music isn’t just audio anymore. It’s a whole world you’re building for people to live in.”

Respect for the Hustle

Throughout the interview, one theme stands out: respect. Billy Ray might describe Lil Nas X’s methods as strange or even confusing, but he never dismisses them.

“I’m old enough to know you don’t write people off just because they think different,” he said. “This kid’s smart. He knows how to make people listen. That’s rare.”

He also praised Lil Nas X’s work ethic.

“He doesn’t coast. He doesn’t just take the easy route. He worked for every bit of that song’s success,” Billy Ray said. “I respect that.”

Looking Back on a Phenomenon

As for the success of Old Town Road, Billy Ray seems both proud and slightly awed by how big it became.

“You don’t expect to make history when you walk in the studio,” he said. “You’re just hoping to make something cool. But man, that thing took on a life of its own.”

Billy Ray believes the song worked because it felt real—even with all the memes and marketing wizardry.

“At the heart of it, it was just two guys telling a story in their own way,” he said. “That’s country. That’s music.”

The Future of Genre-Blending

Billy Ray Cyrus sees Old Town Road as more than just a one-hit wonder. He believes it’s part of a bigger shift in how people think about music.

“Nobody wants to be stuck in one box anymore,” he said. “People want to mix things up. I think that’s good for music.”

He hopes other artists will take the same kind of creative risks.

“Be weird. Be stubborn. Make people pay attention,” he said. “That’s what Lil Nas X taught me.”

Final Thoughts

In the end, Billy Ray Cyrus doesn’t sugarcoat his experience working with Lil Nas X. He calls it “a little weird” because it was. It was two people from different generations, genres, and mindsets trying to make something together. But he’s crystal clear on one point: it was also “really good.”

“He’s a good guy,” Billy Ray said simply. “He knows what he wants, and he knows how to get it. You can’t ask for more in a collaborator.”

It’s an endorsement that says more than any streaming number or award ever could. Because at the end of the day, music isn’t just about sales or trends. It’s about connection—even if that connection is built on confusion, compromise, and a little bit of chaos.