Steve Martin Transforms 'Old Town Road' Into a Traditional Bluegrass Track
Accompanied by prominent genre figures, the banjo-playing icon replaces heavy trap beats with intricate acoustic picking.
Key Release Overview
- Featured Artists: Steve Martin, Del McCoury, Dan Tyminski, and Alison Brown
- Vocal Performance: Martin, McCoury, and Tyminski share primary vocal duties
- Record Label: Compass Records
- Original Composition: Lil Nas X (originally released in 2018)
A Fresh Acoustic Arrangement
Steve Martin has offered a brand-new take on Lil Nas X's mega-hit "Old Town Road," leaning entirely into a traditional bluegrass format. Released via Compass Records, the track discards the heavy trap beat production of the original in favor of a light, banjo-driven arrangement.
To craft the rendition, Martin gathered a team of prominent bluegrass musicians. Alison Brown contributes instrumental talents to the recording, while Martin, Del McCoury, and Dan Tyminski split main vocal duties across the track.
RECURRING COLLABORATION
This recording reunites Martin with Alison Brown following their October 2025 collaborative album, Safe, Sensible and Sane, which featured appearances by Vince Gill and Jason Mraz.
GRAMMY RECOGNITION
Martin won a Grammy Award for his 2009 album The Crow: New Songs for the Five-String Banjo, which featured Dolly Parton and Vince Gill on the song "Pretty Flowers."
Steve Martin's Musical Background
While widely recognized for his work in film and comedy, Martin has maintained a lifelong dedication to the banjo. After initially using the instrument as a prop during his early stand-up performances, it grew into a dedicated musical outlet.
His work as a musician eventually led him to the stage of the Grand Ole Opry, where he made his official debut on May 30, 2009.
Historical Context: "Old Town Road" on the Charts
Lil Nas X initially launched "Old Town Road" in 2018 before dropping a high-profile remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus in 2019. The song spent 19 consecutive weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, setting a record for non-holiday tracks at the time.
That 19-week milestone held until Shaboozey tied it in 2024 with "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." Later, in 2026, Ella Langley surpassed the mark when her single "Choosin' Texas" reached 24 weeks at No. 1, claiming the record for the longest-running top spot across both holiday and non-holiday releases.
