Lil Nas X made history at the Country Music Awards ceremony Wednesday in Nashville, becoming the first openly gay person to win a CMA. The 20-year-old artist and his musical partner, Billy Ray Cyrus, took the Musical Event of the Year award for their remix of the popular song “Old Town Road."
According to LGBTQ Nation, “Old Town Road” broke a record earlier this year, spending 19 weeks as the top song on Billboard‘s “Hot 100” list.
Nas showed his excitement on Twitter after winning the CMA award.
“LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!” he tweeted.
LETS GOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! ????⚡️ https://t.co/QjcZTvp09h
— nope (@LilNasX) November 13, 2019
While the CMA ceremony took place in Nashville Wednesday night, the Musical Event of the Year award was announced earlier that day on Good Morning America.
"Congratulations to Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus for winning #CMAawards Musical Event of the Year for "Old Town Road (Remix)," the CMA Country Music Twitter account said. "The winner was just announced on Good Morning America!"
Congratulations to @LilNasX and @BillyRayCyrus for winning #CMAawards Musical Event of the Year for "Old Town Road (Remix)". The winner was just announced on @GoodMorningAmerica! pic.twitter.com/yWmTbr8UXI
— CMA Country Music (@CountryMusic) November 13, 2019
According to Out magazine, this was the first ever Musical Event of the Year award given by the CMA. The “Panini” artist was up against artists such as Brooks & Dunn, Garth Brooks and Maren Morris.
“I wasn’t sure if this was going to be able to happen tonight,” he told reporters, according to USA 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.”
Lil Nas X also made history in August when he became the first LGBTQ musician to win Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards, according to Out magazine.
The 20-year-old came out as gay during Pride Month in June, making his announcement on Twitter.
"Some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more," he tweeted. "But before this month ends, I want y’all to listen closely to c7osure."
some of y’all already know, some of y’all don’t care, some of y’all not gone fwm no more. but before this month ends i want y’all to listen closely to c7osure. ????????✨ pic.twitter.com/O9krBLllqQ
— nope (@LilNasX) June 30, 2019
In an interview with CBS This Morning in September, Lil Nas X said he knew that he was gay when he was a teenager, but he was praying that it would just go away.
