Steve Martin and Alison Brown have teamed up to bring a fresh bluegrass sound to Lil Nas X’s 2019 hit Old Town Road, transforming the country-rap crossover into a banjo-driven recording.
Released October 8, 2026, the new version features bluegrass veterans Del McCoury and Dan Tyminski. The collaboration replaces the original song’s trap-inspired production with traditional acoustic instruments, including banjo, mandolin, fiddle, and bass.
Martin also contributes new lyrics, adding his signature humor while keeping recognizable elements of the original track.
The recording features Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, and Garry West on bass. Brown explained that arranging the song involved finding a way to showcase the banjos without immediately revealing its familiar melody.
The collaboration follows Martin and Brown’s 2025 album Safe, Sensible and Sane, which earned seven nominations from the International Bluegrass Music Association.
Originally released in 2019, Old Town Road became a major crossover hit, blending country and hip-hop influences. This latest interpretation introduces the song to a traditional bluegrass setting while preserving its recognizable character.
