Post Malone continues to flirt with his country cousins, turning up at the ACM Awards on Thursday (May 16) night to perform a cover of the Allman Brothers hit "Ramblin' Man" with host Reba McEntire in tribute to Dickey Betts. The guitarist died in April at the age of 80.
Malone and McEntire sang the song a cappella following his performance of his new country single "I Had Some Help."
#PostMalone at the #CountryMusicAwards#country #music #awards pic.twitter.com/1EGYdmWAt0
— SpiderGuardian_ (@spiderGuardian_) May 17, 2024
Ironically, Betts - who wrote and sang "Ramblin' Man" in the Allman Brothers - "thought it was a little bit too country for our band," he said in an interview for The Billboard Book of Number One Albums. "I knew it was a good song, but I thought someone else would cut it, but the band loved it."
So it wouldn't be mistaken for a country tune, Betts composed a stacked ending with layered guitars, giving it a definitive rock 'n' roll feel. The song, which reached number two, became a blueprint for what would be known as "Southern rock." That distinctive sound was also heard on the instrumental "Jessica," which was named for Betts' daughter. Both of the songs are included on the Allman Brothers 1973 chart-topping album Brothers and Sisters.
Malone, who is courting the country audience, performed a set of country covers -- with such guests as Brad Paisley, Sara Evans, and Dwight Yoakam -- last month at the Stagecoach Festival. His single and video release of "I Had Some Help" features Morgan Wallen. The song is expected to debut at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 next week.
