9781422271339

Hill attended Lithia Springs High School but walked the hallways primarily as a loner while lugging around a secret as heavy as a ship’s anchor: he was gay. He didn’t play sports, participate in extracurricular activities, or attend weekend parties that many students savor during their high school years. Instead, Hill preferred the solace of his bedroom – and the Internet would provide an escape hatch from the stress of living a life pretending to be somebody he wasn’t. He began floodingTwitter with attention-grabbing memes that showcased his creative talents and wit. Hill proceeded to spread his work on other social media platforms, including Instagram and Facebook, and cultivated a steady and growing audience of followers.

“It was like, I’m able to go viral, but I’m not promoting anything that’s gonna help me. Until music came along.”

After graduating from high school in 2017, he took a stab at college, enrolling at the University ofWest Georgia, but bailed on that after his freshman year to focus on music. Hill wound up sleeping on his sister’s couch, working a handful of unfulfilling minimum-wage jobs, and unknowingly creeping toward a life-changing moment that will be remembered in the music industry forever. Dynamic Live Debut While “OldTown Road” dominated the airwaves and the Billboard charts, it also pulled Lil Nas X out of the shadows. His days of closing off the world and hibernating in his bedroom were over. Fans loved this new hit, and they wanted to see and hear him perform it in person. He rose to the challenge and didn’t disappoint. As the three-day Stagecoach Country Music Festival wound to a close in 2019 in Indio, California – punctuated with country music giant Jason Aldean performing on Sunday evening – hardcore fans who stayed until the end were treated to the first official after-party to be held

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a star is born

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