Lil Nas X releases 'World's Greatest' as first 2026 single

Lil Nas X released 'World's Greatest,' his first new song of 2026, on October 29. The 27-year-old artist wrote the track entirely on his own. Production duties were handled by C.WRAY and Steve Rusch. The release serves as a musical follow-up to his 2025 EP, 'Days Before Dreamboy.'

This new material arrives after a challenging year for the Atlanta native. In 2025, he was arrested in Los Angeles and subsequently faced multiple charges related to that police encounter. Earlier in 2026, he publicly shared his diagnosis of bipolar disorder and disclosed that he spent several months in treatment.

The accompanying music video was directed by Phillip Youmans and filmed in Lil Nas X's hometown of Atlanta. The visual narrative alternates between the singer's current life and dramatized scenes from his childhood. It opens with him rehearsing in a dance studio before weaving memories into the present day. The video ends with a dedication to his late mother, Tamikia Hill.

Hill passed away in August. Ahead of the song's release, Lil Nas X shared a voicemail from her. In the message, she repeated her favorite saying: 'Walk by faith, not by sight.' The artist stated that this phrase has grown in significance as he navigates his recent life changes.

The song and video are now available for viewing. The project marks his latest step after a period away from the public spotlight. The visual tribute to his mother concludes the narrative arc of the video.