Watch Nickelback Team Up With Pop Star for Unexpected Song About Puffed Corn Snacks

via Cheetos / YouTube

A surprising music collaboration has brought together Canadian rock band Nickelback and Grammy-winning rapper Megan Thee Stallion for an unusual purpose: promoting the return of a popular snack flavor. The artists joined forces for a new song titled “Pickle’s Back,” a playful remake of Nickelback’s 2001 hit “How You Remind Me,” created to celebrate the comeback of Cheetos’ Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle flavor.

The project blends music, advertising, and comedy into a short film-style music video that quickly gained attention online. What began as a marketing campaign has turned into one of the most unexpected cross-genre collaborations of the year, pairing early-2000s rock nostalgia with modern hip-hop energy.

A Rock Hit Gets a Snack-Themed Rewrite

“Pickle’s Back” reworks the melody and structure of Nickelback’s signature song while changing the lyrics to match the snack campaign. The track features new verses performed by Megan Thee Stallion alongside updated vocals from Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger. The result mixes humor with familiarity, allowing longtime listeners to recognize the original song while embracing the playful theme.

The collaboration was created as part of a promotional push marking the permanent return of Flamin’ Hot Dill Pickle Cheetos after strong fan demand. The flavor previously sold out quickly during limited releases, prompting the brand to bring it back nationwide along with a new Puffs version of the snack. According to campaign materials, the music video acts as a storytelling piece centered on the flavor’s comeback.

Inside the Mini-Movie Music Video

The video presents what Megan Thee Stallion described as “thee incredible almost true story about how I got my pickle back.” It follows a comedic storyline in which she searches for the discontinued snack, eventually teaming up with Nickelback in a dramatic and exaggerated rescue plot. Directed with a cinematic style, the clip blends action scenes, humor, and performance footage.

Scenes shift between concert-style moments and fictional sequences tied to the snack’s return. The production leans into self-awareness, acknowledging the unlikely pairing while treating the collaboration as part parody and part celebration. Industry observers noted that the campaign reflects a growing trend of brands using full music productions instead of traditional commercials.

Watch Nickleback’s “Pickle’s Back” music video below:

YouTube video

Why the Collaboration Works

Megan Thee Stallion has openly discussed her love for spicy snacks and pickles, which helped inspire the partnership. Reports surrounding the campaign noted that her personal food preferences influenced the flavor’s promotion, giving the project a more natural connection rather than a simple endorsement.

For Nickelback, the collaboration highlights the band’s willingness to revisit its biggest hit in a humorous way. By reimagining “How You Remind Me,” the group taps into nostalgia while reaching younger audiences through a modern pop and hip-hop crossover. The campaign also shows how music marketing continues to evolve, with artists increasingly blending entertainment and advertising into shared creative projects that extend beyond standard promotional formats.

Don’t Miss Out! Sign up for the Latest Updates