Lil Nas X releases Long Live Montero documentary

A new documentary takes a fly-on-the-wall view of rapper Lil Nas X and reveals the challenges and triumphs since his breakthrough hit Old Town Road.

“Do you like people with mullets?”

That’s the surprise question American rapper, singer and songwriter Lil Nas X posed as he was introduced to Insider via Zoom.

“Just because I like people with mullets, that’s big out there in Australia. I love your accent.”

The ground-breaking muso is the subject of documentary feature Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero, a diary-style film shot as he travelled the world with his first global tour. The 95-minute film is a warts-and-all – raw, honest, vulnerable – as the artist takes viewers on a journey of identity and family as a black queer man.

“Along his journey, Lil Nas X experiences challenges and triumphs,” the film synopsis reads.

“Yet, his biggest challenge is whether his family will accept him for who he truly is.”

Lil Nas X at the 2024 Met Gala in New York City. Picture: Marleen Moise/Getty Images

The truth is Lil Nas X needed some convincing to be part of the project in the first place.

Born Montero Lamar Hill in Lithia Springs, Georgia, the larger-than-life colourful character is arguably one of the most identifiable artists on the charts thanks to his boundary-pushing music.

He broke through in 2019 with country rap track Old Town Road, that topped the charts across the globe, from China to the US.

At the time, some might have thought him a one-hit-wonder but he’s not only kept his star going, it has risen while cementing his place as a bona fide voice in the hugely competitive industry.

Lil Nas X in silver body paint at the 2023 Met Gala. Picture: Matt Winkelmeyer/MG23/Getty Images

It is rare for an artist to land with such force. Artists come and go. He takes chances socially, musically, aesthetically. His silver body paint at the 2023 Met Gala is in the same vein as Lady Gaga’s meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards.

Following on from Old Town Road, he’s had global hits including Montero (Call Me By Your Name), Industry Baby, That’s What I Want and Star Walkin.

“I have this idea that, as an artist, you have to keep peeling layers of yourself back so that you can evolve in not only your eyes, but the people who are watching, and I feel like this was an important thing to do,” he said of the documentary.

“Though I was kind of on the fence, but I was like, ‘I don’t want to do this, I don’t want people to like, see me not being the jokey internet guy that they’ve always, like, seen me as. I was like, you know what? F--k it, people that are gonna love me are gonna love me, and people that are going to love this will, and people that won’t, won’t. So, there you go.”

That level of success, so relatively fast too, brings pressure of course.

Lil Nas X performs at the 2024 Met Gala, as highlighted in the documentary Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero.

Lil Nas X in the documentary Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero.

Lil Nas X is a role model to many. He’s had many detractors too – the documentary shows anti-gay protesters outside his concerts. Despite any haters, he is steadfast in the direction he is heading.

“I feel pressure to evolve it and figure out what does that look like in such a fast pace changing landscape that we live in right now. And also keeping authentic to myself and allowing myself to grow beyond what I see people perceive me as.”

In counter to that, how exactly does Lil Nas X perceive himself?

“I think when I’m at a level headed place, I perceive myself as someone who this is the first time on earth, or this is their first time doing this, and they’re making their best strides,” he said.

“And you know, they’ve been put on a lot of different pedestals but they try to keep themselves right in the middle. I take compliments the same as negative things, like everything with a grain of salt. And I don’t know, just try to stay at this, like level the place, so I can decide what I truly want and want to do.

“Does that make sense? So I perceive myself as … I’m not saying that I see myself as nothing. I perceive myself as somebody that’s figuring it out in the most simple terms.”

It wasn’t easy being “raw and vulnerable” on camera, but mostly in front of his family, who feature throughout the film. Lil Nas X came out as gay while Old Town Road was No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 Chart, where it sat for a record 19 weeks.

“Everybody has parts of themselves that are off limits,” he says.

“I feel like you need to. You’ve got to keep something. You know, I can’t just be out here, like, butt naked. But I gave them a lot. I gave them most of it. Certain things I didn’t want to have too much focus on, like my relationship with my mum and stuff like that.

“And I don’t know, I guess, other insecurities about myself. I’m just like, I can’t give them all the ammo.”

The Long Live Montero Tour was in support of Lil Nas X’s debut studio album, Montero, that was released in 2021. He played just one show in Australia – Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion last January 4 – and is itching to come back.

“God, I hope so. I’m sure I want to be back out there. It’s a really great place, and it gets so hot.”

Lil Nas X: Long Live Montero is released on digital to rent and own from May 20.