Country music superstars Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton recently hosted the 2024 Country Music Association Awards (CMA). Notably, pop star Beyonce’s recent attempt at a country album, “Cowboy Carter,” received no mention during the awards ceremony. Beyonce’s involvement in country music has sparked cultural controversy as debate continues as to whether it fits within the genre.
Nominations were recently announced for the 58th CMA Awards, and Wallen, who generally leads the genre, earned the most nominations, with seven. Behind him was Stapleton and Cody Johnson, who both received five nominations. Notably, pop icon and rapper Post Malone earned four nominations after his critically acclaimed country album “F-1 Trillion” has garnered substantial attention.
Other big names in the contemporary country music scene also received nominations, including Luke Combs, Kacey Musgraves, Jelly Roll, Megan Maroney, and Luke Bell. However, Beyonce did not receive a single nomination for her release of “Cowboy Carter,” sparking outrage against the CMA Awards, with some alleging the pop singer was snubbed.
Another person said, “I don’t get the outrage. I listened to the entire album—it may have had minimal country themes, but musically, it wasn’t country in the least.” However, this individual noted, in all fairness, that many “country” artists have drifted away from the genre’s typical sound. “Then again, Musgraves doesn’t even sound country anymore; Ella Langley shouldn’t had her spot for Album of the Year.”
Watch Morgan Wallen wear Harrison Butker’s jersey number while walking into a concert with NFL stars:
“The CMA’s have once again deferred to those in the industry who prefer to deny Black artists the recognition they deserve, failing to nominate Beyoncé in a single category this year despite her record-breaking success with TEXAS HOLD ‘EM and #COWBOYCARTER. The CC era received overwhelming critical acclaim, commercially-outperformed nearly all other releases this year, and brought millions of new listeners and engagements to the genre,” the “Beyonce Legion” fan page wrote on X.
The post continued, “These are the same @CountryMusic Awards that wiped all video and editorial evidence of Beyoncé’s 2016 CMA performance from existence after caving to pressure from snowflake racists who took issue with a Black female artist successfully crossing-over into the genre, a genre that originated with Black Americans.”
Another person in the comments section claimed there was a conspiracy within the country music industry to suppress Beyonce’s album. “Those in control of the politics of country music institutions cannot handle seeing an outspoken Black women succeed in the space. They would rather coddle to racist fans than recognize a breakthrough. I am happy for Shaboozey though. His nom is a testament to the impact of CC,” they wrote.
However, country music fans have maintained that Beyonce attempt at country music was superficial and not deserving to be considered for an award alongside the greats of the genre. “Sorry…. Beyonce’s attempt at country was a gimmick that didn’t and wouldn’t work for her. Just because you put on a hat and boots and rewrite the lyrics to a classic country song, DOES NOT MAKE YOU A COUNTRY ARTIST! I have heard numerous songs from that album, it’s not a country album and should have never been considered that,” one person commented.
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