Some guests at the Grand Ole Opry’s event, this week, bobbed their heads and sang along as Post Malone and Ashley McBryde paid tribute to some country music legends. However, some netizens shared their disapproval of the performance, citing several reasons.
On March 19, 2025, “Opry 100: A Live Celebration” aired on NBC and Peacock TV, with plenty of country musicians taking the stage. Among them were Post Malone and Ashley McBryde, who performed in honor of some late industry legends.
Post Malone and Ashley McBryde perform during Opry 100: A Live Celebration” at Grand Ole Opry on March 19, 2025, in Nashville, Tennessee | Source: Getty Images
Taking to social media, NBC shared a short clip of Malone and McBryde singing their rendition of Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash’s “Jackson.” Playing the guitar while singing, Malone looked impressive in a beige cowboy hat, a white shirt, a red jacket, blue jeans, and brown cowboy boots.
Post Malone and Ashley McBryde’s looks on display at the Ryman Auditorium | Source: Getty Image
McBryde was stunning in a black strapless floor-length jumpsuit as she held a microphone and sang along. Seeing a Facebook reel of the same clip, one unimpressed person confessed, “Not a fan of Malone. Think they could’ve picked someone better. Sry [sic].”
Post Malone and Ashley McBryde sing Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash’s “Jackson” | Source: Getty Images
Another critic stated that the performance was “Disrespectful to Johnny and June,” while someone else lamented, “They destroyed this great song. No one can fill Johnny and June’s shoes.”
Post Malone and Ashley McBryde hug on stage | Source: Getty Images
Someone else who disapproved complained, “Really Post Malone. [sic] He is not country and can not even carry a tune. He is not a member of the opry. Others deserve to be there in his place I hope he never a member. [sic]”
Another person praised McBryde but criticized her duet partner, saying, “Ashley killed it but unfortunately Post didn’t do it justice in my opinion.” Noticing Malone’s large, rounded silver earrings, a netizen commented, “His big earrings are kinda [sic] cute!! Do they make them for men??”
Someone who believed the two artists were nowhere near the Cashes’ league wrote, “No comparison they butchered jackson. Should got Lainey Wilson and George Strait to do it. [sic]”
George Strait accepts the Willie Nelson Lifetime Achievement Award while Jamey Johnson, Lainey Wilson, and Miranda Lambert standby during the 58th Annual CMA Awards on November 20, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee | Source: Getty Images
A fan of the rapper shared, “I love Post but he was not the right person to be singing Jackson with her. They should’ve got someone with a deeper voice like Josh Turner, scotty McCreery, or Chris Young just to name a few. [sic]”
However, not all the comments were negative, as one person remarked, “They were playful and cute. Great song.”
While some enjoyed the tribute, others felt Malone was an unsuitable choice for the performance. Regardless, the event celebrated country music’s legacy with a star-studded lineup.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the first time Malone has faced criticism while performing at a country music event. At the 2024 Country Music Association Awards on November 20, the rapper delivered a solo rendition of his then-latest track.
Post Malone performs at the 58th Annual CMA Awards on November 20, 2024, in Nashville, Tennessee | Source: Getty Images
His performance featured an acoustic setup with violins and guitars. Just like at the Grand Ole Opry 2025 event, the star embraced the country aesthetic by wearing a purple embroidered suit and a cowboy hat.
However, his performance had netizens talking, with some reacting in disappointment. One person commented, “Beautiful lyrics but man…that was hard to listen to!” while another added, “So many better performances. His voice was weak tonight.”
An unimpressed fan remarked, “It was terrible! Worst performance I’ve ever seen from him.” Someone else lamented, “I love Post but that was really off today which made me sad.”
Meanwhile, a netizen noted, “Great song. Not so great singer.” One person didn’t hold back, claiming, “Well, I mean he is talentless anyway.” Another viewer noticed Malone was “Off key, off pitch,” and added, “Is that how he always sounds? I can’t figure out why he’s famous. Tonight was my first time hearing him sing.”
Post Malone singing his heart out | Source: Getty Images
Someone else shared that they liked the song but called the performance “terrible.” However, not all the comments were negative, as one person exclaimed, “Posty made this song!! Gotta [sic] love him for his talent. Welcome to country music.”
Before his solo performance, Malone opened the CMA Awards with a high-energy set alongside Chris Stapleton. The duo performed “California Sober,” their most recent collaboration from Malone’s “F-1 Trillion” album.
Tackling country music has been the rapper’s dream for nearly a decade. In 2015, he tweeted, “WHEN I TURN 30 I’M BECOMING A COUNTRY/FOLK SINGER.” Now at 29, he has followed through on his promise.
His album, “F-1 Trillion,” was released months before the Country Music Awards event. It features 18 songs, including collaborations with country icons such as Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Brad Paisley.
During an interview with Apple Music, Malone revealed, “I’ve always wanted to make a record like this, but for the longest time, it seemed so inaccessible, because I didn’t know how the hell it worked.”
The star might have been unfamiliar with Nashville’s music scene at first, but his country influences run deep. His mother’s favorite country singers include Hank Williams and George Strait.
Post Malone holds his hat onstage at Bridgestone Arena | Source: Getty Images
Meanwhile, his father’s love for ’90s stars like Paisley and McGraw helped shape his appreciation for the genre. These early influences eventually led him to Nashville, where he has had the chance to work with some legends.
During an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” in 2022, Post Malone made it clear that he refuses to be confined by genres. He said, “To be honest, there’s nothing stopping me from taking a camera or setting up in my studio in Utah and just recording a country album and putting it on YouTube. I’m allowed to do that.”
When Stern asked why he hadn’t taken that step yet, the rapper explained that it was a balancing act due to his commitments. Malone shared, “I am happily obligated to do concerts and show love to my fans,” adding that he also prioritizes writing music, making beats, and taking care of his family.
The musician admitted that time is the biggest hurdle in fully pursuing his country music dreams. He explained, “It’s a lot of time, and it’s about finding that space to allot that time.” Post Malone then hinted that if he ever had a year to himself, he might finally make a country album.
