Stripping it back. Post Malone isn’t leaving country music anytime soon. The former pop and rap artist traded his chains for boots, taking the music from his debut country record F-1 Trillion nationwide. Accompanied by Jelly Roll and Sierra Ferrell, the Big A** Stadium Tour has been filled with stellar performances, and they will keep it going as he takes it overseas later this summer with Jelly Roll joining him on a few of those stops. While Posty is packing out stadiums what feels like every night, he’s also finding some time to have fun while being on the road. Part of Malone having some fun on the road includes teaming up with The Littlest Honky Tonk for a stripped back performance of “Ain’t How It Ends.” Released on his B-side Long Bed portion of F-1 Trillion, “Ain’t How It Ends” is one of my favorite songs from the solo collections. The premise of the lyrics is how a stereotypical country song ends. We all know how the heartbroken man will cry that he couldn’t win the girl back, the sad lyrics get even sadder later, and so on and so forth. But “Ain’t How It Ends” highlights the other side of that. The girl does come back, and the sad ending turns happy. “Baby I could put the bottle downYou could say you wanna come back homeI could leave this bar right nowYou could meet me at the door with nothin’ onWe can find a way to work this outAw but girl it would feel so wrongNo comin’ back cuz baby that ain’t how it endsIn a country song…” On one of his days off, Malone teamed up with The Littlest Honky Tonk for a stellar rendition of the tune. While the performance is well-worth watching on its own, it sounds like Malone had quite the time with travelling honky tonk and the country music museum. “On our trip to Utah, we spent some late nights, drinking Bud Light, and chatting about our favorite country songs and artists of today and yesterday. Nights spent reciting some of Roger Miller’s funniest lyrics, going back and forth showing each other songs and sing-alongs. Post Malone knows that country music ranges from the classic cowboy to the yodeler to the country of today, and this song is a love song that meshes all these influences. Post Malone proves he’s true blue – from creating genuine country music to dedicating his time to learning the cowboy way, working his cattle from the saddle and perfecting the houlihan. We left our experience with respect, core memories, and a new friend in Post.” Sounds like a stamp approval. Post Malone is letting his vocal ability shine on a stripped-back performance of the tune. Although it’s a song from his debut country record, the traditional stylings of the song fall perfectly in line with what he hopes to accomplish on his next record. Producer Derek Wells says the “Finer Things” singer’s next project will feature Malone stepping over the line between pop music and country music, deep into the heart of the country genre, where he will channel some George Jones and ’80s George Strait. Wells shares: “There’s also more fiddle, pedal steel, guitar solos. Where we started as two feet over the line into traditional country on ‘F-1 Trillion’ has turned into head, chest, shoulders and feet across the line on where we’re headed with the next batch of songs.” Come on with it. Post Malone has solidified his seat at the country music table, and we are here for it. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for this next chapter of music.The post Post Malone Shines On Stripped Back Performance Of “Ain’t How It Ends” first appeared on Whiskey Riff.