After a performance at Blake Shelton’s bar, Ol’ Red, during CMA Fest which included a cover of the Dixie Chicks’ “There’s Your Trouble” and an appearance from Jelly Roll on “Need a Favor,” the rumors of mgk going country were swirling. After the CMA Fest appearance and a cover of Zach Bryan’s “Sun to Me,” mgk is continuing his push into country music with the upcoming release of “Lonely Road” with none other than Jelly Roll himself.
Hours ago, the pair teased the song on Instagram with the caption, “countdown to KellyRoll activated. thanks to John Denver for paving the way.”
While I’m not one to completely bash an artist or their work, “Lonely Road” might be one of the worst teasers of a song I’ve ever heard. It would be one thing if mgk made his entry into country music by releasing an uninspired, pop country song that would be inoffensive at worst and potentially catchy at best. However, when you take a song as celebrated as “Take Me Home, Country Roads,” and change the lyrics to the nauseatingly cringey “Take me home, lonely road,” it’s unforgivable in my opinion.
The caption, “thanks to John Denver for paving the way” is truly the icing on the cake. What are you thanking him for? For the ability to completely destroy one of the most celebrated songs in not only country music but in American music as well?
I’m a bit surprised that Jelly Roll would even associate himself with a song that is bound to be rejected by country fans. There’s no denying that he has done a lot of good in the genre. From testifying in Congress, to releasing important songs about mental health and addiction to spreading a good message about faith and redemption, Jelly Roll has been a beam of light for many. There’s no denying his talent, so it makes the choice to be featured on this woefully misguided song a bit confusing. Sure, he hopped on “Chevrolet” with Dustin Lynch that sampled “Drift Away” by Dobie Gray, but this is an entirely different situation.
While I’ll save my full judgment of “Lonely Road” until it drops in its entirety, I seriously doubt that a full version of the track can fix the damage already done by attempting to reuse the lyrics and melody of a song as iconic as Denver’s classic. There are some things you simply do not mess with as an artist, especially when breaking into a new genre, and “Take Me Home, Country Roads” is certainly one of them in country music.
“Lonely Road” drops next Friday, July 26th.