Ep 1. Nelly & Friends

Nelly & Friends is the first episode of season 16 of CMT Crossroads, a music television series that pairs up country music artists and musicians from other genres to collaborate and perform each other's songs. In this episode, American rapper Nelly joins forces with a group of country music stars to present a high-energy show full of surprises.

The show kicks off with a performance of Nelly's hit song "Hot In Herre", featuring up-and-coming country star Kane Brown. The duo delivers a mash-up of the song with Brown's "Lose It", showcasing their overlapping influences and shared love of catchy hooks and anthemic choruses.

Next up is a rendition of "Ride Wit Me", one of Nelly's signature songs. He is joined by country superstar Florida Georgia Line, who add a twangy guitar riff and some harmonies to the infectious chorus of the track. The combination of Nelly's rap verses and the country duo's vocal prowess proves to be a crowd-pleaser.

The third song on the setlist is "Just A Dream", a romantic ballad that showcases Nelly's more melodic side. This time, he is joined by rising country singer and songwriter Breland, whose emotive vocals and soulful guitar playing add a heartfelt dimension to the song's lyrics. The pair also performs a rendition of Breland's own hit song "My Truck", which seamlessly blends rap and country elements.

The show continues with a medley of Nelly's classic songs, including "Country Grammar", "Dilemma", and "Batter Up". Each song is given a fresh twist by the collaborators, who bring their own styles and personalities to the mix. The crowd goes wild as Nelly and his friends trade verses and harmonize on each track.

One of the highlights of the show is a performance of "Cruise", the breakout hit by Florida Georgia Line that crossed over to the pop charts in 2013. Nelly adds his own flavor to the song, rapping a verse and adding some urban edge to the country-pop sound. The collaboration proves to be a perfect match, with all three artists feeding off each other's energy and enthusiasm.

The episode ends with a touching tribute to one of Nelly's musical heroes, country icon Tim McGraw. Nelly performs "Over And Over", a duet he recorded with McGraw in 2004, with country singer Jimmie Allen. The song, which tells the story of a troubled relationship, takes on a deeper resonance as Nelly and Allen trade verses and harmonies with heartfelt emotion.

Overall, Nelly & Friends is a dynamic and engaging showcase of two seemingly disparate genres coming together in unexpected ways. Whether it's the smooth flow of rap verses or the twang of a steel guitar, the collaborators on this episode of CMT Crossroads prove that music can transcend boundaries and bring people together in powerful ways.