Didn’t see this one coming.
Tonight, HARDY performed alongside Post Malone and Morgan Wallen at the 2023 CMA Awards in what was previously announced to be a medley of “country classics.”
Those country classics? Two exclusive Joe Diffie covers.
Ahead of the award show, HARDY admitted there would be a big announcement surrounding their performance that would “make sense” after the trio took the stage together:
“There is a plan, and I can’t talk about it yet, but it will all make sense after the awards. I can’t get too much into why we’re doing it but it’ll all make sense in that moment because we have a big announcement coming.”
While I would’ve assumed that Post Malone would finally be announcing that he’s releasing a full-blown country album, the news is still just as exciting, and Hardy was right – it does in fact make sense now.
As soon as the three exited the stage, “John Deere Green” and “Pickup Man,” the songs performed by Wallen, HARDY and Malone at tonight’s CMA Award show, were released to all streaming platforms as a tribute to the late, great (emphasis on great), Joe Diffie.
This hits DIFFerent🍻
— HiXTAPE (@hixtape) November 9, 2023
First two tracks off Vol. 3 featuring @HardyMusic, @MorganWallen, @PostMalone & @JoeDiffieOnline are out now!
Listen here: https://t.co/kHHd6A4N8n #CMAawards #DIFFTAPE pic.twitter.com/VqbqAYbYrw
As most of you are probably already aware, Post Malone has previously covered country songs such as Sturgill Simpson’s “You Can Have The Crown,” and most notably, Brad Paisley’s “I’m Gonna Miss Her.” The two were also hangin’ out before the start of the CMA’s and took to Instagram with this photo:
Post Malone is also apart of the 2024 lineup for Stagecoach, where he will be hittin’ the stage to perform a another “medley” of country covers.
Back in April, 99.3 The Bull posted a short clip asking Posty if he was going to do a country album one of these days.
“I think I’ll do it whenever the time is right.”
Well, it looks like that time may be coming soon. Listen to their new Joe Diffie covers below and check out Morgan’s surprise performance of “Man Made A Bar” with Eric Church here.