Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” set a Billboard Hot 100 record by spending 19 weeks at No. 1 in 2019.
The song began as a viral release on TikTok after Lil Nas X uploaded it independently. Columbia Records later signed him, and a remix featuring Billy Ray Cyrus expanded the song’s audience and helped drive its unprecedented chart run.
Billboard removed the song from its country chart in 2019, saying it did not embrace enough elements of the genre. That decision became part of a larger discussion about genre boundaries, streaming culture, and how modern hits are classified.
“Old Town Road” is distinct from Lil Nas X’s later solo and collaborative hits. Its 19-week run surpassed the previous record held by songs including “Despacito” and “One Sweet Day.” The achievement made it one of the clearest examples of a viral-era song becoming a mainstream chart landmark.