Lil Nas X performs onstage during the Grammys in April. Rich Fury/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption
Lil Nas X ENTER TEASER
Lil Nas X
Lil Nas X performs onstage at the BET Awards at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. Bennett Raglin/Getty Images for BET hide caption
In 2021, Lil Nas X, whose single "Old Town Road" holds the record for the most weeks at No. 1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, delivered his debut album Montero and cemented his ability to bend media platforms to his will. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR/Getty Images hide caption
Lil Nas X, Japanese Breakfast, Vince Staples (pictured above) and more share their favorite music of 2021 with NPR. Photo Illustration by Renee Klahr/NPR; Getty Images; Album art courtesy of Polydor & Wolf Tone Records, Saddle Creek Records, Kemosabe & RCA Records hide caption
Zayn Malik. Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney hide caption
Lil Nas X's "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" is NPR Music's best song of 2021. Charlotte Rutherford/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Lil Nas X's debut album Montero features Billboard charting artists Megan Thee Stallion, Doja Cat and Elton John. Charlotte Rutherford/Columbia Records hide caption
Lil Nas X on BBC Radio 1. YouTube hide caption
Lil Nas X attends the BET Awards 2021 at Microsoft Theater on June 27, 2021 in Los Angeles. Rich Fury/Getty Images hide caption
Singer and rapper Lil Nas X's debut full-length Montero is on NPR Music's shortlist of the best new albums out on Sept. 17. Charlotte Rutherford/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Lil Nas X accepts best direction for "Montero (Call Me by Your Name)" onstage during the 2021 MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday in New York City. Michael Loccisano/Getty Images hide caption
Doja Cat and SZA's song "Kiss Me More" has been one of 2021's most inescapable tracks. Jamal Peters/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Megan Thee Stallion kicked off Saturday Night Live's 46th season in style — and with substance. Will Heath/NBC hide caption
Lil Nas X, the Grammy-winner behind "Old Town Road," has written and released his first children's book, C Is for Country. Kayla Reefer/Courtesy of the artist hide caption
Lil Nas X Says Children Are His Core Audience Right Now, And That's OK
Justin Bieber, photographed during the 2018 NBA All-Star Celebrity Game at Los Angeles Convention Center on February 16, 2018. Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images hide caption
Four of the most-nominated artists at the 62nd annual Grammy Awards — (from left to right) Billie Eilish, Lizzo, Lil Nas X, and Finneas O'Connell — pose in the audience during the broadcast. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for The Recording Academy hide caption