Renowned genre-crossing artist Post Malone just took his career to new territory with his Grand Ole Opry debut, right before dropping his first country music album, F-1 Trillion, this coming Friday. According to FOX 17, the performance featured a star-studded lineup including onstage collaborations with country music veterans Lainey Wilson, Brad Paisley, Vince Gill, and John Michael Montgomery, boosting Malone's country credentials.
Paisley, himself an Opry member, personally invited Malone to perform, hailing the "Better Now" singer with considerable respect for the country lineage and auguring a successful crossover into "hillbilly singer" territory. "Hey Post, Brad here. So, what I’m about to ask is going to mean a lot to you, I think, knowing you and knowing the respect you have for country music and this journey you’re embarking on now as a hillbilly singer, which is gonna be massive and remarkable and amazing for both country music and I think you," Paisley communicated in a video as reported by FOX 17.
Taking to the stage with obvious nerves and heartfelt gratitude, Malone expressed his feelings to the Opry audience. "My name is Austin Richard Post. And I'm here to play some songs tonight with some really amazing folks and friends of mine and I'm honored to call them friends of mine. And I'm so terrified and beyond honored to be standing right in this spot right here," he shared in a statement obtained by KIIISFM.
During a moment that bridged genres and generations, Malone and his cohort dished out a set that spanned from classic country tunes to renditions of his own material, such as the first live performance of his song "Nosedive" alongside Wilson, and a country spin on his 2018 hit "Sunflower." As Billboard detailed, the highlight of the evening included a solo performance of "I Had Some Help," a collaboration with Morgan Wallen, reflecting the album's heavy emphasis on collaborative tracks with country music's elite.
Malone, known for his explicit lyrics, made a conscious effort to tone down his language during the family-friendly Opry broadcast. "I recently made some friends and I'm so honored to know these people and they can sing their asses off," he commended, quickly adding, "That’s not a cuss, right? It’s in the Bible, right?" Malone chuckled as documented by Billboard. The night cemented Malone’s adaptive musical prowess and suggests a warm welcome by the country music community, portending more Opry appearances for the Texas native.
