At Stagecoach, Post Malone embarks on a country music journey alongside icons like Brad Paisley, Dwight Yoakam, and Sara Evans, setting the stage for his highly-anticipated venture into the genre. With a lineup packed with covers and special guests, Malone’s performance marks the official launch of “Posty Goes Country” at Stagecoach 2024. This California country music festival eagerly embraces the pop sensation’s exploration of country sounds, treating audiences to a night filled with unexpected musical delights.
Post Malone’s Stagecoach set was a star-studded affair, featuring appearances from renowned artists like Brad Paisley, who treated the audience to renditions of his own hits such as “I’m Gonna Miss Her” and Vince Gill’s “One More Last Chance”, before closing the show with an unforgettable performance of Alan Jackson’s “Chattahoochee”. Earlier in the set, Dwight Yoakam joined Malone onstage for a rendition of his classic “Little Ways”, while Sara Evans made a surprise appearance to deliver her chart-topper “Suds in the Bucket”.
During his Stagecoach set, Post Malone demonstrated his musical versatility by delivering a captivating array of country covers. From Tyler Childers’ “Whitehouse Road” to George Strait’s “Check Yes or No”, Malone skillfully navigated through a diverse selection of songs, showcasing his deep appreciation for the genre. Even without his original material, Malone’s performance underscored his appreciation for the genre and his skill in navigating various musical styles.
Eschewing his own originals for the evening, Malone delivered an array of covers spanning the breadth of country music, from Tyler Childers’ “Whitehouse Road” to Randy Travis’ “Three Wooden Crosses”. With each song, Malone showcased his versatility as an artist, seamlessly adapting to the country genre while maintaining his distinctive style. During the Posty Goes Country set, Malone refrained from performing any of his own original songs.
Despite the absence of his highly-anticipated collaboration with Morgan Wallen, Malone’s Stagecoach performance left an indelible mark on the festival. The duo’s upcoming release has generated significant buzz, with snippets of their collaboration teasing fans in the lead-up to the event.
In March, the duo released their initial teaser, followed by a second one just before Stagecoach’s opening night. In the lively country chorus, Malone belts out, “It ain’t like I can make this kind of mess all by myself. Don’t act like you ain’t helped me pull that bottle off the shelf. Been deep in every weekend, if you couldn’t tell”. The lyrics emphasize the importance of teamwork, with Malone acknowledging the support he’s received.
Back in 2022, Malone shared with Howard Stern his candid thoughts, stating, “To be honest, there’s nothing stopping me from setting up a camera in my Utah studio and recording a country album, putting it on YouTube. Maybe I’ll face some backlash from the label, but there’s nothing prohibiting me from doing so. I’m entitled to explore different avenues”.
Malone’s exploration of country music is not a new endeavor. The artist has previously dabbled in the genre, making appearances alongside country heavyweights at events like the CMA Awards and covering classics like Hank Williams’ “Honky Tonk Blues”. His willingness to push boundaries and experiment with new sounds speaks to his artistic integrity and fearless approach to music-making. Malone also appeared on “Levii’s Jeans”, a deep cut on Beyoncé’s new country-flipping album Cowboy Carter.
As Malone continues to navigate the intersection of pop and country, one thing is clear: his label can’t possibly be too upset about his musical exploration. With “Posty Goes Country”, Malone has laid the groundwork for a new chapter in his career, one that promises to captivate audiences and defy expectations.
