Riding high with the longest-running No. 1 single in Billboard Hot 100 history, Lil Nas X has saddled up to become the first out gay male performer nominated for a Country Music Association Award.

The gag is that “Old Town Road,” his record-breaking country-rap crossover, was booted off Billboard's Country charts for not being country enough, a decision some fans felt smacked of racism.

While it was snubbed for Song of the Year and Single of the Year, “Old Town Road,” featuring country legend Billy Ray Cyrus, scored a 2019 CMA nomination for Musical Event of the Year.

"Old Town Road" will compete against Maren Morris' “All My Favorite People,” Brooks & Dunn's “Brand New Man," Garth Brooks and Blake Shelton's "Dive Bar," and Brantley Gilbert and Lindsay Ell's “What Happens in a Small Town."

Earlier this week Lil Nas X snatched his first trophy as the first out gay artist to win Song of the Year at the MTV Video Music Awards.

Lil Nas X came out publicly as gay this summer on Twitter. The 20-year-old Atlanta-born artist later said he felt he was "opening doors for more people," because being gay is “not really accepted” in the hip-hop and country communities.

Carrie Underwood hosts the 2019 CMA Awards November 13 with special guests Dolly Parton and Reba McEntire. The ceremony will broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on ABC.