As Lil Nas X's Old Town Road becomes all-time longest-running Billboard No 1, a look at how it got there

In a way, it’s fitting that Lil Nas X has rewritten the pages of history in Billboard, the American industry bible that deemed “Old Town Road” ineligible for its country music chart because “it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music”, a decision that drew allegations of racism File it under things you never imagined would happen. In a way, it’s fitting that Lil Nas X, whose real name is Montero Lamar Hill, has rewritten the pages of history in Billboard, the American industry bible that deemed “Old Town Road” ineligible for its country music chart because “it does not embrace enough elements of today’s country music”, a decision that drew allegations of racism. This reworked version, and its accompanying music video, helped “Old Town Road” break US streaming records and keep the song in the top spot, as did subsequent remixes featuring electronic music producer Diplo; rapper Young Thug and child yodeling star Mason Ramsey; and now in a bid for week 18, K-Pop band BTS’ RM. People have dismissed Lil Nas X as a one-hit-wonder and “Old Town Road” as a novelty tune that will soon be forgotten.