Post Malone’s solo performance at the CMA Awards had the internet buzzing. While some praised the emotional delivery, others didn’t hold back their harsh critiques. Post Malone took center stage at the 2024 Country Music Association Awards on Wednesday, November 20, delivering a solo rendition of his latest track. The performance aimed to capture the audience’s attention with an acoustic setup with violins and guitars. Malone embraced the country aesthetic, blending into the evening’s vibe in a purple embroidered suit and cowboy hat. However, his performance sparked an online debate, with reactions ranging from disappointed to downright brutal.

One viewer didn’t hold back, stating, “Make it stop! This is torture.” Another criticized his connection to the genre, writing, “I can’t believe he is country. Sounded awful.” Even some fans chimed in with mixed emotions. “He is off tonight..& I’m a big fan!” one admitted. Others offered harsh criticism. One comment read, “Award for the worst performance of the night goes…to @postmalone .” The criticism continued to pour in. One viewer didn’t hold back, claiming, “Well, I mean he is talentless anyway.”

Another remarked that the artist was “Off key, off pitch,” adding, “Is that how he always sounds? I can’t figure out why he’s famous. Tonight was my first time hearing him sing. “Not everyone dismissed the effort entirely. One user shared, that they liked the song but called the performance “terrible.”

Despite the flood of negative remarks, the “Congratulations” hitmaker also found support among his fans. Some praised the song itself, calling it “terrific,” while others described him as a “musical talent.” Malone’s artistry also fascinated many. One user wrote, “Love Posty being Cowboy # and LOVE this song he wrote for his little girl ♥️,” one fan shared. Another commented, “Posty made this song!! Gotta [sic] love him for his talent. Welcome to country music.”

Before taking the stage for a solo performance, Malone opened the 2024 CMA Awards with a high-energy show alongside Chris Stapleton. The pair delivered “California Sober,” their recent collaboration from Malone’s “F-1 Trillion” album, setting the tone for the night. For Malone, tapping into country music has been a dream nearly a decade in the making. In 2015, he tweeted, “WHEN I TURN 30 I’M BECOMING A COUNTRY/FOLK SINGER.”

Now 29, the rapper-turned-singer is making good on that promise. His latest album, “F-1 Trillion,” released just months ago, features 18 tracks, including collaborations with country icons such as Tim McGraw, Blake Shelton, and Brad Paisley. Speaking to 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.”

Though unfamiliar with Nashville’s music scene at first, Malone’s country influences run deep. His mom’s favorites, like Hank Williams and George Strait, and his dad’s love for ’90s stars like Paisley and McGraw, shaped his appreciation for the genre. Those early influences eventually brought him to Nashville, where he worked alongside some of country music’s biggest names. In 2022, Post Malone made it clear during an appearance on “The Howard Stern Show” that he refuses to be confined by genres. “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,” he said. “I’m allowed to do that.”