Steve Martin and Alison Brown Covered Old Town Road
The duo reimagined the record-breaking hit with a new banjo-driven bluegrass arrangement.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Country
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Steve Martin and Alison Brown have released a bluegrass cover of Old Town Road, featuring new lyrics penned by Martin. The track replaces the original country trap style with a banjo-centered arrangement.
Why it matters
Martin sought to reimagine the cultural phenomenon through a bluegrass lens, while Brown aimed to highlight the banjo within the framework of the massive hit.
The original version of Old Town Road spent 19 weeks at number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2019. The project follows the release of Martin and Brown's 2025 album Safe, Sensible and Sane.
The players
Steve Martin
He is an acclaimed comedian and musician who has received an IBMA entertainer of the year award.
Alison Brown
She is a renowned banjo player who earned the IBMA banjo player of the year award in 1991.
Del McCoury
He is an influential bluegrass singer and guitarist who serves as a primary vocalist on this track.
The details
Del McCoury and Dan Tyminski provide lead vocals on the track, which also features Ronnie McCoury on mandolin, Stuart Duncan on fiddle, and Garry West on bass. The production shifts the song from its original electronic trap aesthetic to a traditional bluegrass instrumentation.
Timeline
1991: Alison Brown was named IBMA banjo player of the year.
2011: Steve Martin received the IBMA entertainer of the year award.
2019: The original Old Town Road spent 19 weeks at number one.
2025: Martin and Brown released the album Safe, Sensible and Sane.
- 2026-10-08
The bluegrass cover of Old Town Road was released.
Industry Dynamics
This cover reflects a broader trend of genre-blending in music, where established artists reinterpret viral hits to cross traditional stylistic boundaries. It follows the precedent established by the 2019 Billboard Hot 100 chart dominance of Old Town Road.
Listeners can access the track on digital music platforms to experience the shift from the original trap arrangement to a bluegrass sound. The cover marks a new entry in the catalogs of both Steve Martin and Alison Brown.
The takeaway
This collaboration demonstrates how traditional bluegrass instrumentation can reframe modern pop culture staples. It highlights the continued cross-pollination between genre-specific artists and viral internet hits.
Further reading
Learn more about the evolving sounds of the genre on the Country section page.
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Do you enjoy hearing bluegrass covers of popular hit songs?
