Sam Elliott Shows Off His Mustache ‘Wave’ During Dance Duel To ‘Old Town Road’

Aug 20, 2023

Actor Sam Elliott is renowned for his deep, resonant voice, rugged good looks and signature bushy mustache, which has become an iconic trademark throughout his illustrious career. Elliott has had an extensive acting career spanning over five decades, and he is well known for his portrayal of cowboys and Western characters in both film and television.

Elliott's affinity for Western roles began early in his career, with his breakthrough role in the 1969 film “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid,” where he played a card player who taunts Paul Newman's character, Butch Cassidy. His role as the cowboy, Wade Garrett, in the 1989 film “Road House” also cemented his reputation as a cowboy icon. He later went on to star in numerous other westerns, such as “Tombstone,” “The Quick and the Dead” and “The Hi-Lo Country.”

Despite his penchant for cowboy roles, Elliott's acting range extends beyond Westerns. He has also played a wide variety of characters in other genres, including drama, comedy and action. He received critical acclaim for his role in the 2018 film “A Star Is Born,” where he played the older brother and manager of the lead character, played by Lady Gaga.

Elliott's rugged appearance has also made him a popular choice for commercial voice-overs, including campaigns for Coors beer and Dodge Ram trucks. He has also lent his voice to animated films, such as the 2015 Pixar movie, “The Good Dinosaur.”

Elliott's signature feature, his bushy mustache, has become a trademark of his image, and he has been known to incorporate it into his characters' appearances.

In 2020, he put his distinct voice and signature mustache to good use when he appeared in a pair of Doritos commercials that aired during the 2020 Super Bowl. And, he teamed up with the most unlikely of partners.

Lil Nas X shook the music industry when he stepped onto the scene in 2019. With his record-breaking hit “Old Town Road,” the now megastar is internationally known. Lil Nas X’s real name is Montero Lamar Hill, and he was born in Lithia Springs, Georgia, in April 1999.  

Lil Nas X didn’t achieve stardom overnight. He originally started by using his creativity on the internet. He began creating memes for platforms like Twitter. Eventually, he started to produce and host comedy videos on Facebook and Vine. He started to gain momentum on Twitter in 2017 and became an internet personality. It wasn’t long until Lil Nas X traded the internet personality title for a pop star on the rise. 

In December 2018, he released the country rap song “Old Town Road” after working extremely hard to bring the song to life. Lil Nas X would record on $20 Tuesdays at a music studio in Atlanta to make his dreams come true. Self-promoting the song “Old Town Road” picked up traction on the rising social media platform TikTok. In early 2019, “Old Town Road” would finally get the credit it deserved by finding mainstream popularity. The song would go on to hit the Billboard Hot 100 at No. 83 before eventually climbing to the No. 1 spot, where it stayed for 19 consecutive weeks! 

Breaking into the entertainment and music industry didn’t come easy, but Lil Nas X managed to pass the test with flying colors. His undeniable entry into stardom was sealed when he was chosen to star alongside Elliott in Doritos' 2020 Super Bowl commercial.

There is nothing better than when generations come together to make magic. Whether it be movie reboots or remixed songs, people love a new take on a classic favorite. That is exactly what happened when the world heard and saw Doritos' commercial for the 2020 Super Bowl. The advertisement took the world by storm by teaming up a country music legend with a new rising pop star. 

When Lil Nas X dropped the hit single “Old Town Road,” the world went a specific type of wild — country-western wild. The hit song became a massive global hit and ended up breaking records on the Billboard Hot 100 charts. Little did the world know that “Old Town Road” would be partnering with iconic names and brands to bring the sports world a one-of-a-kind showdown during the Super Bowl. 

When he collaborated with America’s ultimate favorite chip brand Doritos as well as landing one of America’s favorite countrymen, Elliott, Lil Nas X struck gold with the record-breaking single. The one-minute commercial quickly became a fan and internet favorite after the release brought young and older generations together.

Not only were fans in love, but they were also surprised when another country star made his way into the picture. With Billy Ray Cyrus included in the singing part of the song “Old Town Road,” it was only natural to see him in the video, too. It’s safe to say that the small country meets Hollywood production may have made more of an impact than the sports game that went on. 

The Doritos chip commercial started with Lil Nas X riding down a dusty road in a wild west town past a sign that read “Cool Ranch.” Get it? Lil Nas X rode until he ran into Elliott. 

In an earlier teaser, Elliott had walked into a saloon and started quoting the lyrics from the song "Old Town Road." His famous southern drawl worked perfectly with the lines from the song as he recited them out loud. Then, beats could be heard from outside the saloon, and Elliott quickly set down his drink and exited the saloon. 

A main commercial released by Doritos showed Elliott and Lil Nas X face off in a dance duel. “Make your move, cowboy," Elliott said before Lil Nas X broke out into dance. Elliott's famous mustache also broke out a move as it wiggled across his face. 

The dance number went on and on before Elliott gave in to Lil Nas X’s dance moves. 

At the end of the clip, Lil Nas X rode off on his horse and said, "Who got next?" The video then cut to Cyrus sitting on a rocking chair with a guitar. “I ain’t dancin’!” Cyrus, who was featured on "Old Town Road," said. 

With millions of views on the internet, fans still talk about the iconic commercial. 

“I've been a Sam Elliott fan for years. Never thought I was see him doing a commercial like this, I love this commercial!!! But, the horses made this commercial even greater!!!!” one person said.

“That was dope. When Elliott came in with the moustache (sic) wave I lost it! 😂 ” another person commented.

What did you think of the young pop star and an older legendary actor partnering up for this commercial? Let us know, and if you found yourself dancing and singing along, make sure to send it to others who would enjoy it too!