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Lil Nas X almost took a role in 'Euphoria': 'I definitely want to get into acting'

By Megan Armstrong | Last updated 8/11/21

Lil Nas X is doing everything in his power to ensure his music career is as long as it already has been revolutionary.

"I was actually going to do Euphoria," the 22-year-old rapper, singer and songwriter revealed while serving looks on the cover of Variety's Power of Young Hollywood Issue, "but I didn't want to take time away from finishing my album. I definitely want to get into acting, but I feel like I have to give it my all, and I want to focus on music for now. I want my first movie to be amazing."

.@lilnasx has become a singular trailblazer. In terms of pop stars confrontationally expressing sexuality, one has to go back decades to David Bowie or Madonna, to find others who have gone so far in forging a path. https://t.co/tPUNpXfD0B pic.twitter.com/l9a1szJz8g
— Variety (@Variety) August 11, 2021

.@LilNasX shines on the cover of Variety's Power of Young Hollywood Issue:

How Lil Nas X Is Revolutionizing Hip-Hop As an Empowered Gay Star https://t.co/tPUNpWY1C1 pic.twitter.com/NcxKAESLVF
— Variety (@Variety) August 11, 2021

Nas (born Montero Lamar Hill) certainly knows how to make his first impression count—look no further than "Old Town Road," which spent an unprecedented 17 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and propelled him immediately into the global spotlight that he has since used to challenge norms through "Montero (Call Me By Your Name)" and "Industry Baby" featuring Jack Harlow.

All of which is to say, we have all benefitted from his authenticity. Lil Nas X on Euphoria, though? It's hard not to imagine what sort of magic he could have conjured opposite Zendaya on the smash HBO series.

But with Nas' focus singularly on music for the foreseeable future, we have his debut solo studio album Montero to look forward to by the end of this summer, according to the Variety cover story.

"Honestly, I believe the pandemic helped me get out of the idea of trying to please everybody, and the idea of 'He's a cool gay person; he’s an acceptable gay person,' the Grammy winner told the outlet. "I used to see things like that as a compliment, but it's not. It just means you're a people pleaser, and they never become legends. I wanted to be even more authentic in my music and let people into my life. I’m much more confident now—in my music, myself, my sexuality, the things that I believe that I stand for."