98 Time November 25, 2019
SHINING
BRIGHT
LIL NAS X | 20
By Billy Ray Cyrus
I’ll never forget the morning.
I was having coffee and Ron
Perry from Columbia Records
sent me “Old Town Road.” He
said Lil Nas X wanted me to
sing on it. But I told Columbia
it was perfect. I couldn’t do
anything to it. They asked if
I’d give it a shot and come into
the studio with Nas to record
a third verse. We wrote it with
R&B songwriter Jozzy, and it
was born right there in the
studio. It was magical. I told
Nas he was going to be a light
in this world and he would
shine brighter than anyone
else. And he has. He’s brought
everyone together, from all
musical genres and generations.
“Old Town Road” changed my
world—and his—forever.
Cyrus is a country-music singer
and songwriter