Fans React As Beyoncé Snubbed At Major Country Music Awards

Fans and industry figures alike are reacting as Beyoncé’s foray into country music, Cowboy Carter, didn’t receive any nominations for this year’s CMA Awards. Meanwhile, she’s dominating this year’s People’s Choice Country Awards with 12 nominations.

The CMA Awards, the most prestigious awards in country music, see nominees and winners voted by 7,300 individuals in the Country Music Association trade group. Why is it surprising that Cowboy Carter wasn’t nominated for any CMAs?

For one, the release of Cowboy Carter saw Beyoncé become the first Black woman to top the Billboard Country Albums chart, while lead single Texas Hold ‘Em found significant radio play in the US and overseas, dominating charts in the UK and Australia upon its release.

• Loren Ryan: 'Beyoncé Has Made History In Country Music'

That single also made headlines after an American country radio station initially refused to spin it because Beyoncé isn’t typically a country artist. However, following significant backlash on social media, the station reversed its decision.

In addition to the album's evident popularity, it’s also surprising that Beyoncé was snubbed when Post Malone, another artist who successfully rebranded from hip-hop/pop to country, was nominated for three CMA Awards—his song I Had Some Help with Morgan Wallen is up for Single of the Year, Music Video of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year, award nominations he shares with Wallen.

Going public with his support of Beyoncé, Shaboozey – who features on two Cowboy Carter tracks, and you now hear on the radio with A Bar Song (Tipsy) – wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter, “That goes without saying. Thank you @Beyonce for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!”

Sharing Shaboozey’s post, singer, producer and journalist Mel Smith remarked, “BOOM. This guy has had the most successful single of 2024. And most of the world heard about him through Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé did what she set out to do.

“Beyoncé INSTEAD soundtracked USA Gymnastics at the Olympics. She ushered in a new gen of Black country artists into the mainstream, including Shaboozey who has been atop the B100 for 8 wks & counting. Only after having a #1 country hit herself. The CMAs are low hanging fruit.”

Beverly Keel, the co-founder of Change the Conversation and Nashville Music Equality, added: “I am disappointed, to say the least, that @Beyonce didn't receive a @CountryMusic CMA nomination. The album is one of the best of all genres this year and is a work on a level that few contemporary albums reach. This is Nashville's and country music's loss.”

Harper’s Bazaar went on to claim that the CMA’s “don’t deserve Beyoncé, and a fan wrote in a blazing post: “Beyoncé’s impact on country music can not be denied & is not validated/invalidated by the CMA’s. Her commitment to pushing boundaries and breaking barriers in music (& bringing others along to reap the benefits) is beyond legendary in itself. She’s already won. Fuck them”.

Before the release of Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé insisted that the record “ain’t a Country album” but a “Beyoncé album,” adding that her aim for Cowboy Carter is to reach a point where “the mention of an artist’s race, as it relates to releasing genres of music, will be irrelevant.”

That goes without saying. Thank you @Beyonce for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!

— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) September 9, 2024

BOOM.

This guy has had the most successful single of 2024. And most of the world heard about him through Cowboy Carter. Beyoncé did what she set out to do. https://t.co/LL7YKUEL7Y

— Mel Smith (@iamMelsmith) September 9, 2024

Beyoncé INSTEAD soundtracked USA Gymnastics at the Olympics. She ushered in a new gen of Black country artists into the mainstream, including Shaboozey who has been atop the B100 for 8 wks & counting. Only after having a #1 country hit herself. The CMAs are low hanging fruit.

— Mel Smith (@iamMelsmith) September 9, 2024

I am disappointed, to say the least, that @Beyonce didn't receive a @CountryMusic CMA nomination. The album is one of the best of all genres this year and is a work on a level that few contemporary albums reach. This is Nashville's and country music's loss.

— Beverly Keel (@bevkeel) September 9, 2024

Let’s Be Clear: The CMAs Don’t Deserve Beyoncé https://t.co/yA1P66NgDL

— Harper’s BAZAAR (@harpersbazaarus) September 9, 2024

Beyoncé’s impact on country music can not be denied & is not validated/invalidated by the CMA’s. Her commitment to pushing boundaries and breaking barriers in music (& bringing others along to reap the benefits) is beyond legendary in itself. She’s already won. Fuck them https://t.co/HjSPOMsptX

— Tyrant Daughter dancin Flamenco in Levii’s Jeans (@247Freakum) September 9, 2024