I’m not sure what I was expecting from MGK’s performance at CMA Fest, but this definitely wasn’t it.
These days, it seems like everyone is trying to get into country music. From Lana Del Rey and Beyoncé, to Post Malone and Yung Gravy, pop and mainstream artists are running to country music to try and get into the action. And it’s not really a surprise, considering the success that names like Morgan Wallen, Zach Bryan and Luke Combs are having.
Well it seems like Machine Gun Kelly is dipping his toe into the country waters too.
MGK has become good friends with Jelly Roll, so it’s no real surprise that he would be interested in checking out country music. But it was a surprise to see him on the lineup for Spotify House at Ole Red during CMA Fest on Friday night.
I really had no idea what to expect from his performance. Would it be his own music? Would he be debuting some new country songs? Would it be a collab performance with Jelly Roll, considering he was set to perform after what was listed as a “Surprise Performance” on the schedule?
I genuinely had no clue. But what I didn’t expect was for him to cover The Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks).
But that’s what he did.
Now, his performance was mostly his own music (though he did also bring out Jelly Roll, so I called that one right). So it wasn’t exactly Post Malone at Stagecoach doing an entire set of country covers. But he did make time for a performance of “There’s Your Trouble,” which was released in 1998 from the Dixie Chicks’ debut album “Wide Open Spaces.”
@mgkmagic country mgk 🤠 his voice so good??? NEED A STUDIO VERSION ASAP. #machinegunkelly #mgk #colsonbaker mgk covers “There’s Your Trouble” by American country music band Dixie Chicks (now known as the Chicks) at Spotify House at CMA Fest 2024 – Day 2 at Ole Red on June 7, 2024 in Nashville, Tennessee. 🎥: morgan.wallen.tiktok on tiktok @Mwal ♬ original sound – mgkmagic
Now, do I hate it? No, he actually sounded pretty good. But is MGK in country music really necessary? Does he know anything about country music, or is this just the latest in the recent trend of pop artists wanting to try out something new?
It just feels like at this point (with the exception of Post Malone, who’s actually shown a respect and appreciation for the classics and legends of country music), it’s just a costume for these artists. Let’s play country for awhile, get some attention and try to add to the fanbase by appealing to the fans of guys like Morgan Wallen.
I dunno, maybe I’m just too cynical. But it seems like it’s getting to be too much.
Anyway, I’ll get off my soapbox now and at least give MGK credit for doing a decent cover of an underrated song.