It’s official. “Old Town Road” just became a record-breaking hit with the longest-running stint at No. 1 on the Billboard charts.
Billboard announced Monday that Lil Nas X‘s hit debut single featuring country legend Billy Ray Cyrus surpassed the record for weeks at No. 1 on the Hot 100 charts, spending an unprecedented 17 weeks at the top. “Old Town Road” beat out the previous record of 16 weeks at No. 1 that was held first by Mariah Carey and Boyz II Men’s “One Sweet Day,” and later matched by Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee’s “Despacito,” featuring Justin Bieber in 2017, according to Billboard.
The song has been dominating the Billboard charts since the remix was released back in April. Lil Nas X reacted to the news on Twitter, sending out a “YEEE TF HAWWW,” followed up by a lengthy Instagram caption reflecting on his seemingly overnight journey to success.
“Last year in October, as a struggling artist starting to lose faith in what I could be, I went looking for beats on Youtube. I remember clicking on so many generic sounding beats trying to find the right one for me. When suddenly I came across a country-trap sounding masterpiece,” Lil Nas said under a photo of he and Billy Ray Cyrus in the studio.
YEEE TF HAWWW ???
— nope (@LilNasX) July 29, 2019
The country-trap star, born Montero Lamar Hill, said last year he was on the verge of getting kicked out of his sister’s house, a situation that gave him inspiration for the song that would become the biggest hit single to date.
“I jokingly/seriously saw myself as a loner cowboy needing to run away from it all! I went out on my sister’s back porch and listened to the beat OVER & OVER & OVER!! Then it came to me!! In my best singing voice I sung “YEAHHH I’M GONNA TAKE MY HORSE TO THE OLD TOWN ROAD I’M GONNA RIDEEEE TIL I CANT NO MORE” I LOVED IT ALREADY! I started to work on it EVERY SINGLE DAY.”
His hard work paid off as that song began catching on throughout the internet before going viral. Still, it wasn’t until Billboard deemed it ineligible for the country charts that the song caught national attention, a stance that prompted Billy Ray Cyrus to hop on the remix. Old Town Road has been soaring ever since, and Lil Nas has dropped additional remixes including one featuring Young Thug and Mason Ramsey.
“Did I know it would become the longest running number 1 song of all time? NO!,” the 20-year-old Atlanta native continued. “But I am so thankful that this blessing has been placed upon me. This song has changed my life and the way I see the world.”
See Lil Nas X’s full reaction to the big news below. Congratulations to the young viral sensation for making history!
