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Why Lil Nas X Turned Down Working With Taylor Swift

On the red carpet of the 2025 GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles March 27, Lil Nas X exclusively told E! News that he and Taylor Swift almost collaborated on a song, but he “couldn’t catch a vibe.”

By Bentley Maddox Mar 28, 2025 10:01 PMTags
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Lil Nas X almost took a getaway car to the studio with Taylor Swift.

The “Old Town Road” rapper revealed that he and the “Lavender Haze” singer nearly collaborated on a song, but the track never got out of the woods.

“We were working on something,” Lil Nas exclusively told E! News’ Francesca Amiker at the GLAAD Media Awards in Los Angeles March 27. “She offered to let me try a verse on something, but I couldn’t catch a vibe for it, so it didn’t happen.”

And though the “Call Me By Your Name” singer (real name Montero Lamar Hill) didn’t “even want to talk about” the missed opportunity, he was able to shake it off and praise Taylor.

“I’m proud of my girl,” he continued in the interview, airing on E! News March 31. “I love the album. She’s been doing her thing. She’s at the very tippety top. I’m thankful that she even considered me.” 

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Of the potential to work together someday, he added, “When it happens… Global. World. Tay-tay and Nassy.”

While Lil Nas hasn’t been featured on a Taylor track just yet, that’s not the only end game he has in mind. In fact, he would love to collab with 2025 Grammy winner Doechii.

“My girl’s been doing her thing,” the 25-year-old said. “We’ve been about to get into the studio for like a year but we’ve never got to it. I just want to get out there.”

But as Lil Nas X is set to release his second album Dreamboy this summer, he’s not necessarily focused on collaborating with other artists.

David Fisher/Shutterstock; Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

“I’m not gonna lie, I’m kind of in my own zone right now just focused on me,” he explained with the caveat, “I’m super open to working with all the girls that I love, everybody that’s doing their thing right now. 

And when it comes to the vibes of Lil Nas X’s upcoming album? He simply doesn’t want to cause any drama.

“This new music era is really gonna be carefree,” he shared. “It’s gonna be fun. I’ve always been the girl to rile everybody up. I don’t want to do that this time. I want to have fun.”

For more from Lil Nas X, tune into E! News March 31 at 11 p.m. Until then, keep reading to see more stars who showed up and showed out at the 2025 GLAAD Media Awards.

Cynthia Erivo

JoJo Siwa

Megan Stalter, Joshua Jackson, Johnny Sibilly, Carl Clemons-Hopkins, Mark Indelicato, Hannah Einbinder, Lisa Ann Walter, William Stanford Davis & Paul W. Downs

Lil Nas X

Maren Morris

Sophia Bush & Dylan Mulvaney

Doechii

Joshua Jackson

Natasha Rothwell

Glennon Doyle & Abby Wambach

Dylan Efron

Marissa Bode

Michaela Jae Rodriguez

Jaymes Vaughan & Jonathan Bennett

Hannah Einbinder

Rico Rodriguez & Raini Rodriguez

Michael Urie, Maren Morris, Doechii & Lil Nas X

Zachary Quinto

Jac Schaeffer, Sasheer Zamata, Patti LuPone & Joe Locke

Cooper Koch

Nava Mau

Bobby Berk

Lena Waithe

Chris Appleton

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