Lil Nas Xis making history!
On Wednesday, the rapper became the first openly gay performer towinat theCountry Music Association Awards, according toOutmagazine. Lil Nas X and his collaboratorBilly Ray Cyruswon the award for musical event of the year for their remix of Lil Nas X’s hit song “Old Town Road.”
Reuterspreviously reported in August that the 20-year-old was also the first openly gay performer to receive a CMA Awards nomination.
“LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! 🐎 ⚡,” Lil Nas Xtweetedon Wednesday after learning he had won the award. According toOut, the winner of the category was announced ahead of the Nashville ceremony on Wednesday night with a reveal onGood Morning Americaearlier that day.
“I wasn’t sure if this was going to be able to happen tonight,” he told reporters after the awards show, according toUSA Today. “I’m so happy this song was accepted because it is the bridging of two polar opposite genres. I’m happy it’s gotten respect from both places.”
Check out PEOPLE’sfull CMA Awards coverageto get the latest news on country music’s biggest night.
Leah Puttkammer/Getty
Lil Nas X, who earned viral fame earlier this year with “Old Town Road”,came out as gayat the end of Pride Month in June.
In arecent interview withCBS This Morning, the hitmakeropened uptoGayle Kingabout his journey, explaining that he used to pray that “it would go away.”
“Did you know as a little boy that you were gay? Did you think that as a youngster while people were telling you it’s not a good thing, were you thinking, ‘Yeah, but I think I am?’” asked King.
“Yeah, definitely. I knew. Especially around my teenage years,” Lil Nas X replied, adding that at that time he would “pray, pray and pray” that his sexuality was just “a phase.”
Lil Nas X.Jason Kempin/Getty Images
“There’s still a lot to be done, of course,” Lil Nas X said. “But I — I do believe it’s helping.”
Lil Nas X’s CMAs win was also notable after his original “Old Town Road” track wascontroversially removedfromBillboard’s Hot Country chart in April, causing him to remix the track with country star Cyrus.
source: people.com
