On Post Malone Performing at the CMA Awards
Every single year, the Country Music Association is going to find someone from outside of the country music genre to perform on the CMA Awards. That’s just the way things are. The idea is that you need a superstar that is not country to entice a wider audience to watch the presentation. This happens every single year. Country fans can shake their little fists at the television and curse that idea all they want, but this is never going to change.
It goes without saying that whatever superstar is tapped to fill this role, they will be taking a prominent performance slot away from a more deserving country artist, and often a legend or an independent one. In 2023, some of the biggest artists in the entire country genre such as Zach Bryan, Tyler Childers, and Billy Strings are independent. They’re out there selling out arenas and stadiums. But aside from a Best New Artist nomination for Zach Bryan, they are not contenders for any of the CMAs.
However, taking it as a given that someone from outside of country music must make an appearance at the CMA Awards, we could definitely do worse than Post Malone. Just take last year, for example. We saw Katy Perry perform with Thomas Rhett in a completely forgettable performance on an otherwise very surprisingly traditional country-oriented CMA Awards.
In fact, despite the gripes that the CMAs regularly get from purists, the awards presentation has become progressively more tolerable to downright enjoyable ever since 2015 when Bro-Country was repudiated, and Chris Stapleton had his big breakout moment, facilitated in part by another appearance from a pop star outside of country, Justin Timberlake. An as opposed to hurting ratings for the show, ratings have improved when more traditional country is featured on the CMAs.
Post Malone has proven over the years to be very aware of what’s going on in country, and gravitating toward the more traditional and independent side of the spectrum, wearing the merch of guys like Tyler Childers, Colter Wall, and Billy Strings, and covering the songs of Sturgill Simpson and Brad Paisley during a big pandemic presentation backed by Dwight Yoakam’s band.
However, one problem with Post Malone’s CMA appearance is there’s no plan to collaborate with these kinds of artists. Instead, Post Malone is being partnered with country music’s bad boy Morgan Wallen, and contemporary country’s answer to butt rock, the all-caps HARDY. Granted, despite Morgan Wallen and HARDY very much embodying post Bro-Country’s 2.0 era, both of these guys can and do write, sing, and perform very traditionally-oriented country songs as well.
This is what separates Morgan Wallen and HARDY from the Sam Hunts and Florida Georgia Lines of the world. Take one of Morgan Wallen’s recent singles called “Everything I Love.” It may not be great, but it’s definitely country. Wallen’s catalog has a decent handful of these more classic-sounding country songs, many that are co-written with his frequent collaborator Ernest, who has helped push Wallen more to the traditional country side.
Furthermore, the CMA is saying that Morgan Wallen, HARDY, and Post Malone will be performing a medley of “classic country songs” on the presentation. Medleys tend to be the bane of awards shows since they rarely allow a “moment” to develop from the frenetic pace of coming in and out of choruses. But if they end up landing on a specific song to finish the medley out, it could be good.
Once again, it was Chris Stapleton singing his interpretation of a classic country song in “Tennessee Whiskey” with Justin Timberlake that sent that song and Chris Stapleton into the stratosphere on the CMA Awards. Here eight years later, “Tennessee Whiskey” continues to be one of the most popular songs in the entirety of country music.
These are the kinds of “moments” the CMA Awards can launch. Will Post Malone be a part of one? Is it even possible in the post pandemic world to make such a splash as awards shows have become such background noise in American culture? We’ll have to see. But to have Post Malone on the CMAs as opposed to Nelly or Diplo, or whoever the hell else the CMA could have dredged up is probably a net positive. Ultimately, you just want someone who respects and understand country music. Post Malone has shown that respect and understanding.
Post Malone will probably make a country album at some point in the future, and it will probably be pretty good. Perhaps the CMAs will be a launching pad for that. In fact on Sunday, November 5th, pictures of Post Malone, Ernest, and Morgan Wallen in the studio together were swirling all over the internet. Again, you’d much rather see Post Malone in the studio with Tyler Childers or Billy Strings, but we’ll see what happens.
It goes without saying that we’d rather have a country legend or an independent up-and-comer granted Post Malone’s performance slot on the 2023 CMA Awards. But otherwise, there are reasons to remain cautiously optimistic that Post Malone will contribute something of value to the presentation compared to some other previous CMA guests.
Hell, he’s probably more country than some other face tattooed folks who will perform on the show.
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The 2023 CMAs are scheduled for Wednesday, November 8th on ABC. Stop by Saving Country Music for the annual LIVE blog during the festivities.
November 6, 2023 @ 8:21 am
Post Malone is a genuine fan of all music. I think he’s mentioned doing a country album at some point. If it comes from an authentic place, I think it’s a net positive for country music. If he put out a classic country sounding album, it may even be another nail in the coffin of bro country. Here’s hoping.
November 8, 2023 @ 5:22 pm
Country Music has taken a turn although Post is very talented he doesn’t belong on a country stage all I’m going to say.
November 6, 2023 @ 8:24 am
The collab of the year happened on a small stage in Newport Rhode Island when Tyler Childer joined Turnpike on Bird Hunters and for a John Prine cover.
It was also an underrated moment when Felker joined Jason Isbell on King of Oklahoma .
If the CMAs were smart they’d lean into those types of collaborations more . I get Post Malone is a big name but like you said, independent country is more popular than it ever has been ..
November 6, 2023 @ 8:46 am
I don’t want to criticize the CMAs for completely ignoring what’s going on in independent country at the moment because the presentation hasn’t happened yet, but they certainly run that risk. Having Colter Wall, Billy Strings, and Tyler Childers perform with Post Malone would have been the better option as opposed to Morgan Wallen who will get his own performance slot as well. Or yes, Turnpike with Tyler, or something similar to if nothing else, symbolize what is happening.
But I also have to say, I think independent country may have shot itself in the foot in some respects. With Sturgill Simpson’s protest outside of the CMAs in 2017, and Jason Isbell renouncing his CMA membership in 2020 after he was the one that broke the independent barrier in 2017 when “The Nashville Sound” got nominated for Album of the Year, I think the CMA is scared to mess with these independent musicians. I think they fear that if they let them into the fold, they’ll stir controversy and make them look bad. But the CMA also risks losing relevancy if they continue to ignore what’s happening.
Getting equal representation at places like the CMA Awards is one of the final Rubicons for independent country to cross.
November 6, 2023 @ 9:34 am
Not country obviously, but Post Malone earned my fanhood during the pandemic when he livestreamed a full set of Nirvana songs with Travis Barker on drums. It was unreal. Highly recommend looking it up on YouTube if that’s your thing. I bet he does something cool at the CMAs.
November 6, 2023 @ 2:41 pm
Yep! Was cool!
November 6, 2023 @ 9:07 pm
Another great moment from that set was he didn’t play smells like teen spirit because Kurt hated playing it
November 6, 2023 @ 9:36 am
Do people understand country music of the old days, is great music, but you’ll have a tiny audience willing to tune in and listen to him all the time. An artist from a different music genre, is needed just to keep them afloat. Go all country and I guarantee you your ratings will be down 30 40%. I love country music but, I’m a realist.
November 6, 2023 @ 11:51 am
The CMA thinks like you do: We need people from outside country music on the broadcast to draw more viewers.
I think the logic is flawed. Promoting pop performances on the CMA awards is going to turn off a significant segment of country fans; and despite their intentions, in this day of hundreds if not thousands of streaming video options you’re not going to get a lot of pop fans to sit through a country show to see a pop artist perform one song. So they’re both losing viewers and not gaining many viewers through this decision.
November 6, 2023 @ 6:03 pm
I’m with you. Hip-hop has been mainstream for nearly 35 years. An entire generation has gowrn up with it — urban and suburban and rural, Northern and Southern, white and black and Hispanic and Asian. Collaborations with hip-hop artists that have legitimate country elements to them, especially well-written, meaningful lyrics, can do nothing but move country music forward, especially in the context of awards shows that can expose fans of those artists to the wider variety of country music. Maybe some of them will dig deeper and discover the non-radio acts that SCM champions. For sure, there will be more such hip-hop fans doing that if their favorites are collaborating with country acts or recording country-based material.
November 6, 2023 @ 11:52 pm
Yea, really. Why would a country music awards show want to go “all country”?
November 6, 2023 @ 9:55 am
If anyone is open to modern pop/hip hop, Post Malone’s Tiny Desk concert is surprisingly great. I was never a fan of his music (though I respect his music, and I’ve liked his country and rock covers), but the more stripped down and organic style of a Tiny Desk concert really makes the songs come to life.
Also, the influence of Country on his music is a lot more obvious in the instrumentation, with the slide guitar all over it filling a role very like pedal steel.
November 6, 2023 @ 10:39 am
Isn’t Posty doing Stagecoach? In that respect he’s got some industry cred. I wonder if the Texas-born Posty will switch to country since he has exhausted every permutation of what he does.
November 6, 2023 @ 9:08 pm
Yep doing StageCoach and said his complete set will be country. I’d imagine he may throw an original in there
November 6, 2023 @ 10:42 am
PS Looking forward to waking up to the liveblog on Thursday. I fear the only criticism you will have will be Old Dominion (was it you who called them a band in search of a frontman?) winning Group again.
November 6, 2023 @ 10:53 am
I know you’ve wrote about how Jelly Roll is a chameleon that latches on to whatever is trendy and popular at the moment before, but yes, thank you for your last line. He’s from all accounts a nice guy, but he’s gonna kiss whoever’s ass is getting him in the headlines. “Oh I’d sure love to meet Zach Bryan!” Yeah I bet you would. Let me know you want to meet Jason Boland or someone like that, that’s not going to further your career
November 6, 2023 @ 5:42 pm
The headlines about Jelly Roll are as incessant has his alligator tears, that are only drowned in volume by Garth Brooks. Glad the guy is a good Samaritan (supposedly), but it’s all getting very old, very fast.
I also expect him to have a big night at the CMAs.
November 6, 2023 @ 6:16 pm
I get what Jelly Roll is doing, and I think it’s mostly positive for country music. He hasn’t abandoned his rock and rap origins, and his shows — and his recent albums — reflect that. Good for him. That’s the way to get the attention of an audience that hasn’t given country music much attention over the 35 years that hip-hop has been in the mainstream.
He’s heading for No. 1 with Lainey Wilson, and most likely his collab with Cody Johnson will be a radio smash, too, once “The Painter” wraps up its run. Both of those collaborations are substantially more country than they are rock or hip-hop or pop. Jelly, no matter how you feel about his back story or how suspicious you are of his sincerity, can be an entry drug (sorry) to more traditional country music.
Forget about introducing Jelly Roll fans to Tyler Childers or Zach Bryan for now. Let’s get them listening to Lainey or Cody or Luke Combs or Jon Pardi or even Eric Church first.
November 6, 2023 @ 8:45 pm
I wish you were right about this, but I remain very skeptical. Jelly Roll has some good songs, but he’s only country by accident, and in fleeting moments. And they’re really pushing his persona so hard right now, you’re starting to see backlash to it. Every day it’s a new human interest story on him, and folks are getting fatigued.
November 6, 2023 @ 10:17 pm
Nashville’s gonna Nashville. It’s gotten really good at pushing, and even creating, personas for its stars, and that’s something I try to ignore and focus strictly on the music when I’d deciding if I like or dislike an artist. Johnny Paycheck was a punk, a pretty horrible human being out in the real world, but as long as he wasn’t moonlighting as a hit man between tours, I was OK with liking his music. In fact, I’d probably still like the music even if he was!
Lately, YouTube has been feeding me far too many fan-shot videos of various Jelly Roll concerts, mostly featuring “Save Me.” Do I feel completely comfortable with kids coming up on stage with him and singing “I’m a lost cause, baby don’t waste your time on me.” or with the huge crucifix at the back of the stage in some venues while he sings that song? No, not completely. But I do like the song, and several others off the Whitsitt Chapel album, even some that are more rock or rock/rap than they are country. If he turns out to be a fraud, at least in the image he and Nashville are pushing, I’ll still like the songs, just won’t post about it anymore.
Is he the second coming of Hank Williams, the man who’ll fill George Jones’ shoes? No, and it remains to be seen if he can sustain his country popularity, or even write any country material that doesn’t pound away at what a total screw-up he used to be.
Sorry for rambling. I know the topic is supposed to be Post Malone, but there’s something about the inevitable snark and cheap shots that come up here whenever he or any other artist with a rock or rap background is mentioned here that strikes me as counterproductive in terms of saving country music.
November 6, 2023 @ 10:54 pm
Hey Howard,
I appreciate your passion and insight into this subject. I honestly remain conflicted about Jelly Roll. I recognize the talent. I just don’t know that the talent is pointed in the direction of country, or if Jelly Roll has just moved onto his latest hustle. It’s really hard to read the situation. I might try to finish my review of his recently album soon. That would be a better place to discuss this.
November 7, 2023 @ 7:31 am
I disagree that Jelly Roll is bringing fans from other genres to country music. He didn’t just show up a year ago. The guy has been part of the hick-hop crowd for years. His audience was minor compared to the artists he’s now collaborating with. He’s not bringing fans to country music artists, they are bringing fans to him.
Congrats to him for pulling his career out of the scrap heap though, and for finding someone on music row to relentlessly promote him.
November 8, 2023 @ 5:20 pm
jelly roll only reinforces the white trash image of certain kinds of country music, without actually playing country music. Huge negative. He probably got lost in Nashville on his way to the juggalo gathering. He should be doing dishes at a skeezy dive bar.
November 6, 2023 @ 10:59 am
He obviously likes some great tunes, has a good voice and good delivery, and there is genuine emotion when he sings. He also seems to be a super good guy. I wish he would not annunciate like he does. The letter t is pronounced like t and not like ts.
November 6, 2023 @ 11:02 am
I would rather he perform Dial Drunk with Noah Kahan, but I don’t think Noah want’s to be classified as country.
November 6, 2023 @ 11:18 am
He needs to wash the Sharpie off his face.
November 7, 2023 @ 7:48 am
“hE NeEdS To WaSh tHe ShArPiE oFf hIs FaCe”
you are such a square.
November 7, 2023 @ 9:16 pm
Tattoos always look like hot garbage, and especially face tats. Sorry 😐.
November 8, 2023 @ 7:07 am
people that judge others by how they look and that try to police how others look are hot garbage. sorry 😐.
also, they’re squares.
November 8, 2023 @ 9:06 am
No one’s judging how he looks. He’s a vaguely handsome guy underneath all the ink. But the ink definitely looks like hot garbage.
November 8, 2023 @ 2:50 pm
Ben,
thegentile belongs to that special group of people who don’t like other folks judging people while they judge anyone who disagrees with their views.
November 8, 2023 @ 5:55 am
If not liking ink scribbled on a face makes me a square, so be it.
It is certainly not the insult you think it is.
November 6, 2023 @ 1:19 pm
yeah, I’m still not watch this clown.
November 6, 2023 @ 1:42 pm
Post Malone did a cover of Brad Paisley’s I’m Gonna Miss Her (easily found on YouTube) that’s actually pretty fun. Likewise with his cover of Sturgill’s You Can Have The Crown.
I couldn’t name a single Post Malone song, but if they’re going to have a non-country artist performing, he’s not the worst possible pick.
November 6, 2023 @ 5:22 pm
It says something that when Post Malone picks country songs to cover he has chosen straight up country songs. That’s the kind of music that carries weight and resonates with people and sticks around. If Post Malone wants to release a country album he has every right to do it, especially if he wants to cover an old Brad Paisley song. (Brad hasn’t released any good music in like 20 years)
Jelly Roll is pure Outlaw Country. If Outlaw Country was more like Meth and Fentanyl mixed with antidepressants Country
November 6, 2023 @ 5:25 pm
Morgan Wallen set out to be a rock artist on the Voice before his image was retooled. He’s not authentic.
November 6, 2023 @ 5:25 pm
I went out of my way to watch last years after I read all the positive feedback after it originally aired, and I still can’t get enough of some of those performances, especially Never Leave Harlan Alive. Based solely on my enjoyment of that show, I took off from my night job and am looking forward to watching the CMAs live for the very first time. Hope I’m not too disappointed. Fingers crossed.
November 6, 2023 @ 7:09 pm
I think that performance of “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” put Patty Loveless in the Country Music Hall of Fame. These performances matter. Sometimes they matter more or less than others. But people who act like the CMAs don’t matter are not paying attention.
No clue how good or bad the presentation will be this year, but it will be hard to top Patty with Chris and Morgane last year. There is supposed to be a Jimmy Buffett tribute, which could be good.
November 8, 2023 @ 5:19 am
Agreed it was the perfect time for her to reappear. Helps that the CMA and HoF are the same entity basically.
I always look for HoF candidates who perform to likely be the pick come spring time.
November 6, 2023 @ 6:42 pm
Heck, Gwyneth Paltrow* would be a better choice to perform at the CMAs than some country singers who show up on that dog and pony show.
Although, I do have to give the CMAs credit for giving Patty Loveless, what, 6 minutes(?!) to sing “You’ll Never Leave Harlan Alive” last year.
*my apologies, her song from that Country Strong movie just showed up in my youtube feed
November 6, 2023 @ 7:44 pm
But in this case,this is a mistake. He’s a joke. Big mistake.
November 6, 2023 @ 8:31 pm
I think the main cause of anger and disappointment at the CMAs is based on unrealistic expectations. People always complain about independent artists like Strings and Simpson not performing but I think we just need to accept that it’s never going to happen. The CMAs are the Awards show for mainstream country music and that’s the way it is. Now that independent artists are having success, the CMAs do risk losing relevance by only featuring the same collection of artists but I don’t see them changing any time soon. Like it or not, the nominations are the nominations and the performers are the performers. The CMAs are gonna CMA I guess but I think constantly seeing the same criticisms about non-major label, non-mainstream not performing or being nominated is like fighting a losing battle.
November 6, 2023 @ 11:05 pm
A Colter Wall/Post Malone performance would be legendary and do absolute wonders for country music.
November 7, 2023 @ 5:10 am
So this is what country music has come to, rappers all pretending they’re country. Whose next lil wayne jay z
November 7, 2023 @ 5:54 am
Let’s face it, for the majority of acts–and this has been true for a lot of years–the country genre is a stylistic choice.
Let me know when the CMAs have Martha Spencer perform. That I’ll watch.
But Willie Nelson just got in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in front of people like Warren Zevon, so we got ’em there.
November 7, 2023 @ 7:53 am
In this day of cross over artist featuring artists from different genre is a good way to go. You know have what some people call true country artist collaborating with artists from other genres, point in fact one of the greatest being Mrs. Dolly Parton. Personally though I believe they would have made for a more exciting collaboration if the had teamed jelly roll with post Malone now that would bring some people to their feet. Besides you have these 4 wonderful buttons on your remote control called power,volume,channel and mute you can always exercise your right of freedom of choice and use one if you don’t like the content.
November 7, 2023 @ 9:00 am
i know it wont happen but if Posty got up there and did his cover of “You Can Have the Crown” that would be the coolest thing ever
November 7, 2023 @ 10:58 am
Unlike some of the people from other genres the show has had on it over the years, Post Malone actually likes country music. Listen to his interview on Greater Bakersfield with Dwight Yoakum and that becomes obvious.
November 8, 2023 @ 5:43 am
Morgan has some really good sounding country deep cuts. Just a shame he only releases his douchebag songs to the radio .
November 8, 2023 @ 6:57 am
If you are suggesting Jelly Roll is a hustler moving into country music, which has some justification. I wonder if you can flag this up in the liveblog, hopefully without legal implications!
November 8, 2023 @ 8:42 pm
Well, Post Malone was by far the most country performer of that Joe Diffie tune. Well done, I’d say. Very well done.
November 11, 2023 @ 6:55 pm
I have to admit that I judged Post Malone harshly because he looks like a Doodle Bear. Then I saw him perform on this Elvis ’68 Comeback Special tribute thing NBC did a while back and I was shocked at how good he was. Then I saw the video of him singing “You Can Have the Crown” and I gained a lot of respect for him. If he does a country album, I’ll definitely give it a shot.