Lil Nas X continues to break barriers since coming out earlier this year.
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ICYMI: The rapper took to Twitter to address rumors about his sexuality in June and revealed that he is gay.
This week, the "Old Town Road" rapper took home the country music award for Musical Event of the Year at the CMAs and made history as the first openly gay black artist to ever do so.
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The genre-bending hip-hop track beat out traditional country songs like “Dive Bar” by Garth Brooks featuring Blake Shelton and “All My Favorite People” by Maren Morris featuring the Brothers Osborne, among others.
"First Country Music Award win!" Lil Nas X wrote on Instagram to celebrate his historic achievement.
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As a black gay man myself, I couldn't be more proud 🏳️🌈.
Billy Ray Cyrus, who also took home a trophy for his feature on the "Old Town Road" remix, posted a photo with the 20-year-old on Instagram, writing, "What a great night celebrating!"
The well-deserved moment came after Lil Nas X received anti-gay comments, making it all-the-more significant.
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"Say one more home of phobic [sic] thing to me," he wrote on Instagram in July, with a photo of a sad cowboy emoji.
Since then, Lil Nas X — real name Montero Lamar Hill — has commented on his coming out experience, telling Time magazine he was inspired to speak his truth after "seeing Pride flags everywhere and seeing couples holding hands."
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“I never would have done that if I wasn’t, in a way, pushed by the universe,” he shared.
In another interview that same month, the Atlanta native said he hoped his story would "open doors" for other young queer people to "feel more comfortable" to do the same.
Old Town Road rapper @LilNasX has seen a backlash since he came out earlier this week - but he tells @BBCBreakfast he's taking it with a sense of humour.
There's no doubt that seeing Lil Nas X living his life unapologetically — and continuing to achieve massive success — has inspired many others. Cowboy hats off to him on his history-making accomplishment at the CMAs 👏🏾!
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