Post Malone is shifting from beerbongs and Bentleys to rhinestone suits and pickup trucks.
Malone made a splash in 2016 with the trap/hip-hop vibes of “White Iverson,” but he’s ventured into diverse genres. From the alternative rock tones of “Circles” to embracing heavy-metal alongside Ozzy Osbourne in “Take What You Want,” and delivering a memorable Nirvana tribute in a 2020 livestream, Malone has explored various musical realms. Now, the Texas native is set to return to his roots with a foray into country western music.
The notion has lingered in Malone’s thoughts for years. He teased a double LP with country star Dwight Yoakam’s band and suggested that nothing was holding him back from fully embracing the outlaw country style. More hints surfaced following the 2023 CMA Awards.
Malone is well acquainted with country music, sporting T-shirts of artists like Billy Strings, Colter Wall, and Tyler Childers. He has formed connections with Nashville’s music elite, counting Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, and Tanya Tucker among his friends. Additionally, Malone has covered songs such as Sturgill Simpson’s “You Can Have The Crown,” Dwight Yoakam’s “A Thousand Miles From Nowhere,” Hank Williams Jr.’s “There’s a Tear in My Beer,” and Brad Paisley’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her.”
As fans eagerly anticipate Malone’s upcoming album, let’s delve into everything he has shared about the project:
April 2021
Malone revealed plans for a double album in the realm of country music, aiming for broad appeal. In a statement to iHeart, he expressed the desire to create a universally enjoyed project, spanning genres like country, folk, and pop. Drawing inspiration from Johnny Cash, Malone enlisted Dwight Yoakam’s backing band to bring his vision to life.
“Some day he’s going to come with a country album,” added Recently Republic Records’ Monte Lipman.
Although the statement hinted at a late 2021 release, fans observed that Malone made the announcement on April Fools’ Day, and the album never came to fruition.
June 2022
Since the drop of “Circles” in 2019, Malone has been exploring beyond trap and hip-hop. During a visit to The Howard Stern Show in 2022, he expressed a refusal to be confined by any specific genre.
“To be honest, there’s nothing stopping me from taking a camera or setting up in my studio in Utah and just recording a country album [to put] on YouTube,” he added. “I’m allowed to do that. I’m a human being.”
Malone continued, “I split my time between a lot of different things because I am happily obligated to do concerts and show love to my fans and then I’m happily obligated to write music and make beats by myself, and I’m happily obligated to, you know, take care of my family. So, it’s a lot of time, and it’s about finding that space to allot that time. If I get another year to myself, maybe I’ll make a f–king country album.”
April 2023
A year after welcoming a daughter with his fiancée, and three months before the release of his fifth studio album, Austin, Malone disclosed on Instagram that he had quit drugs, kicked soda, and adopted a healthier lifestyle, driven by the desire to be around for his newborn daughter for a long time.
Malone shared on Instagram that he had been spending time in the studio working on new music and expressed excitement about sharing it with fans. In the post, he was seen beside a pair of camouflage cowboy boots, and his caption included three boot emojis, subtly hinting at his transition towards country music.
“Austin,” a nod to Malone’s birth name, marked a subtle shift away from hip-hop, integrating elements of alternative rock, synth-pop, and indie sounds into its sonic landscape.
Malone made a move to Utah in 2019, bidding farewell to Los Angeles. Four years later, he left his imprint on his new home by unveiling the Post Malone-designed Raising Cane’s restaurant. At the restaurant’s opening, when asked by radio station 93.3 The Bull, Malone was queried about the possibility of venturing into country music.
“I think I’ll do it whenever the time is right in the studio,” replied Malone. “I’m just vibing, f—king around. I think it’ll be a fun time [and] I just like creating stuff and making everything.”
November 2023
Malone provided a country project update during an event with Apex Legends on his Twitch channel. Expressing enthusiasm, he confirmed, “Country album is coming.” He teased a song created in Nashville, describing it as “so f—kin’ sick” and shared that the experience of making music in Nashville was incredibly enjoyable.
Malone praised the “amazing” country artist HARDY, describing him as a sweetheart and expressing how much fun he had. He further fueled anticipation for his country album at the 2023 Country Music Association Awards, where he joined Morgan Wallen and HARDY to cover Joe Diffie’s “Pickup Man.”
Access Hollywood’s Emily Orozco caught up with Malone and inquired about his experience being on stage in front of a country audience.
“So much fun. I’m not nervous at all — that’s a lie!” said Malone. “I had so much fun. It was an amazing experience.” When asked whether the performance meant his country album would finally see the light of day, he said, “I think so. Yes, ma’am!”
A week after the CMAs, Malone achieved his inaugural placement on Billboard’s country charts with “Pickup Man.” The 2023 single, showcasing Malone, Wallen, and HARDY alongside the late Diffie’s vocals, reached No. 34 on the Hot Country Songs chart and No. 44 on the Country Airplay charts.