MGK Covers Controversial Country Band at CMA Fest

MGK
MGK Brett Carlsen/Getty Images for Spotify

The latest non-country artist to dip his or her toes into the Nashville pool? This time it's MGK (aka Machine Gun Kelly), who surprised music fans by confirming he'd on the bill for a showcase at 2024's annual CMA Fest a week ago.

The four-day festival, held in downtown Nashville June 6 -9, is traditionally a mecca for country music fans (it even bills itself as the "Ultimate Country Music Fan Experience"). MGK's appearance on the schedule for Spotify House at Ole Red was ostensibly part of a group of unnamed "surprise guests," but his pixellated image featured briefly on the bill led sleuths to question on social media whether he was actually part of the lineup, which included more expected names such as Luke Bryan and Ashley McBryde.

Turns out, indeed, he was. And, this being a country music event, MGK's Friday set included not only a couple of his own (non-country) tunes, but a cover from one of Nashville's most beloved pot-stirrers, the Chicks. His choice: 1998's hit "There's Your Trouble," a plaintive tune about a man who is with the wrong woman and just can't get it through his head.

While the idea of this particular artist doing this particular song -- a loping, gently paced composition that largely benefits from lead singer Natalie Maines' emotive vocal work -- might leave some fans scratching their heads, MGK's confident but mellow take on the song wasn't half bad.

@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

The fact that MGK -- who declared himself an "anarchist" when asked about his political leanings in 2012 -- chose to cover a song by a group that famously dissed the president of the United States in 2003 just added a bit of seasoning to the entire thing.

Fan reaction on X was largely positive, dubbing him "Country Colson" (MGK's real name is Colson Baker)."I never would have guessed that I needed to hear MGK covering the Chicks," noted one fan, while another begged "please please please pretty please" for an actual release of the cover.

MGK also shared the stage with bona fide country star Jelly Roll, who hopped on to belt out his own "Need a Favor" as well as MGK's "My Ex's Best Friend."

Tags
Machine gun kelly
Join the Discussion
Real Time Analytics