Machine Gun Kelly Compares Country Music Welcome to Landing on Moon

Machine Gun Kelly has never defined himself by a single genre and is grateful that the country music community has welcomed him.

Kelly, 34, closed out the People’s Choice Country Awards on Thursday, September 26, at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville with a solo performance of “Lonely Road,” the song he dueted with Jellyroll in July.

The song marked a successful foray into country music for Kelly, who took home the award for best crossover song on Thursday for the hit single. MGK spoke with us Us weekly exclusively on the red carpet about his welcome to the country music community.

“I think it’s like the moon or something,” he said. “It’s nice to see someone else land on it, you know? I feel like we’ve long since gotten used to what the moon looks like when a new pair of boots steps on it and leaves a very different footprint in the dirt.”

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Kelly praised the country music industry for making him feel accepted for his contributions, compared to other times where he had to “break down a door.”

“To be honest, I am very humbled and very grateful to have been welcomed. I was welcomed with open arms,” he said. “I’ve had to break down a door so many times in my career, and they were very kind in opening the door for me. I’m going to fill in in class and my job is to be a great musician, so I’m going to bring in great music.”

Kelly echoed this sentiment in his acceptance speech, talking about working with Jelly Roll, who was absent due to a concert he was performing in Boston that same evening.

The two weren’t always so close. They discussed their long-standing feud and how they put their differences aside after Kelly “hated each other” for a decade.

“Comparison is the thief of joy. There is enough space for everyone on the couch. We found camaraderie in the chaos,” he said as he accepted the award. “Last year I was right there, sitting in that seat, watching my boy rock on that stage. And I thought, “Man, I hope one day we’re up there.” And we are!”

“Lonely Road” is Kelly and Jelly Roll’s interpretation John Denver“Take Me Home, Country Roads.” They released the video that summer along with the single, which also featured guest appearances from Jelly Roll’s wife. Bunny XOand Kelly’s fiancé, Megan Fox.

With reporting by Pam Windsor.