Post Malone's album is a who's who of country music: Past, present and future
Post Malone has gone country. The singer, who has released rap, alternative, pop and rock music in the past, is fully embracing his Texas roots with F-1 Trillion, out Aug. 16.
The 29-year-old, whose real name is Austin Post, has topped the Billboard Hot 100 six times, been nominated for 10 Grammys and collaborated with a range of artists across genres, from Justin Bieber to 21 Savage. He’s beloved in the industry and by cross-generational fans, and though his last two albums performed decently, they weren’t the smash hits of his preceding projects. It’s the logical point in his career to start dabbling in other styles.
“Genres suck,” Malone told the New York Times. “It’s easier to catalog music that way. But at a certain point — and the cool thing is that it’s moving towards this — why can’t you mix all this together and make something that’s truly unique to you?”
Ahead of the release of F-1 Trillion, he debuted three singles. The first one, “I Had Some Help” featuring Morgan Wallen, is on track to become the song of summer. This year alone, he’s collaborated with two of the biggest stars in the world — Taylor Swift and Beyoncé. “Fortnight” with Swift hit No. 1, and “Levii’s Jeans” with Beyoncé played a major role in her own country crossover project.
It’s no surprise that Malone’s country album features a broad range of legends, from those with decades-long careers to the buzziest stars of the moment — in fact, 15 out of 18 tracks on F-1 Trillion have star-studded features. Let’s take a look at all the stars who wanted to be a part of the “Sunflower” singer’s country era.
Tim McGraw
The singer and actor, 57, has released 16 studio albums since 1993, including a compilation of his greatest hits. He’s won three Grammys and had 61 songs land on the Billboard Hot 100, including “Live Like You Were Dying” and “My Little Girl.” McGraw is married to fellow country legend Faith Hill. His song with Malone is called “Wrong Ones.”
Hank Williams Jr.
The country, rock and blues singer, 75, has released 54 studio albums since 1964 and is perhaps best known for his song “All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight,” which was reworked to be the theme song for Monday Night Football. He comes from a musical family: His father was the legendary Hank Williams, and four of his children are also recording artists. He appears on Malone’s song “Finer Things.”
Morgan Wallen
The 31-year-old’s third studio album, One Thing at a Time, which was released in 2023, broke the record for the most songs by an artist on the Billboard Hot 100 at one time. The single “Last Night” set the record for the most weeks at No. 1 for a noncollaboration song. Wallen is clearly having a moment that isn’t going to end anytime soon — he’s featured on Malone’s “I Had Some Help,” which is on track to be 2024’s official song of summer.
Blake Shelton
Shelton, 48, has released 12 albums since 2001. He’s best known for pop country songs like “Boys ’Round Here” and “God Gave Me You.” He was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2017, during his long run as a judge on the singing competition show The Voice, where he met his wife, Gwen Stefani. His song with Malone, “Pour Me a Drink,” was the second single off F-1 Trillion.
Dolly Parton
The legendary singer and actress, 78, is best known for “Jolene,” “9 to 5” and her extensive charity work. She’s had 25 singles top the country music charts and won 11 Grammys, including the Lifetime Achievement Award. After appearing on Beyoncé’s country album this year, she’ll be on Malone's as well, with “Have the Heart.”
Brad Paisley
Paisley has released 13 studio albums since 1999, and 21 of his songs have topped the country charts. Two of the 51-year-old’s biggest hits are “When I Get Where I’m Going,” which is a duet with Dolly Parton, and “Waitin’ on a Woman.” His songs are often comedic, and he’s won three Grammys over the course of his career. His collaboration with Malone is “Goes Without Saying.”
Luke Combs
Though his first album came out in 2017, 34-year-old Combs’s career truly took off in 2023 when he covered “Fast Car” by Tracy Chapman, which peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was among the most popular songs of that year. His latest single, “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma” from the Twisters soundtrack, is currently charting — as is his single with Malone, “Guy for That.” They have a second collaboration, “Missin’ You Like This,” that is out Aug. 16.
Lainey Wilson
Recent country breakout star and Yellowstone actress Lainey Wilson won Entertainer of the Year at the CMA Awards in 2023 — and she was the first woman to do so since Taylor Swift in 2011. She nabbed a Grammy for her album Bell Bottom Country last year. The 32-year-old is featured on Malone’s song “Nosedive.”
Jelly Roll
Jelly Roll has a bit more in common with Malone than most of the other collaborators on this album — and it’s not just his face tattoos. The singer, whose real name is Jason Bradley DeFord, has also dabbled in rap and rock, breaking out with the country-twinged singles “Son of a Sinner” and “Need a Favor” in 2022. The 39-year-old spent time in jail in his younger years and testified before Congress about his support of anti-fentanyl legislation. His song “Save Me” is sampled on Eminem’s latest album, and his collaboration with Malone is called “Losers.”
Ernest
The 32-year-old up-and-coming country artist, whose real name is Ernest Smith, has written songs recorded by Wallen, Jake Owen, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Chris Lane and Jelly Roll. He’s featured on Wallen’s song “Cowgirls,” which is currently making its way up the Billboard Hot 100. His song with Malone is called “Devil I’ve Been.”
Sierra Ferrell
The folk singer is best known for her song with Zach Bryan, “Holy Roller.” At 36, she hasn’t had a huge breakout song yet, but her latest album, released in 2024, earned critical acclaim. She’s featured on “Never Love You Again” with Malone.
Chris Stapleton
The country rock musician, 46, has won 10 Grammys and topped the country charts several times. He’s been featured on songs with Bruno Mars, Swift, Justin Timberlake and Rage Against the Machine. He has also written ultrafamous songs for artists like Kenny Chesney, Josh Turner, George Strait and Luke Bryan. Now, it’s Malone’s turn. Their song is called “California Sober.”
Hardy
The 33-year-old, whose real name is Michael Wilson Hardy, is another prolific songwriter who might have his breakout moment soon. He was the Academy of Country Music’s 2022 Songwriter of the Year, and over the course of his career, he’s written for Florida Georgia Line, Shelton, Rhett and Wallen. He has released three studio albums so far, and his song with Malone is “Hide My Gun.”
Billy Strings
Born William Lee Apostol, the 31-year-old won the Grammy Award for Best Bluegrass Album in 2021. He’s featured on Malone’s song “M-E-X-I-C-O.”
