Beyoncé fans were left disappointed on Monday morning after the nominations for the 2024 Country Music Awards were announced.
Beyhive members and music industry insiders are sharing outrage that Beyonce’s first country album, “Cowboy Carter,” was ignored.
MTSU’s Dean of the School of Media and Entertainment, Beverly Keel, wrote, “This album is one of the best of the year and a work of art on a level few contemporary albums have reached. This is a loss for Nashville and country music.”
I am disappointed, to say the least, that @Beyonce not get one @Country Music CMA Nomination. This album is one of the best of any genre this year and is a work of art that few contemporary albums have ever achieved. This is a loss for Nashville and country music.
— Beverly Keel (@bevkeel) September 9, 2024
The album’s lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” became the first song by a black female artist to reach number one on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart. Beyoncé fans were expecting some recognition for the achievement, especially given the album’s origins.
Before releasing “Cowboy Carter,” Beyoncé teased the album on Instagram with six paragraphs of text. The pop star wrote that her first country album “came from an experience I had years ago where I didn’t feel welcome.”
Many assumed the reference was to the 2016 Country Music Awards, where Beyoncé performed “Daddy Lessons” from “Lemonade” with The Chicks. When the performance was met with backlash, Beyoncé was inspired to take a stand in a genre that has disproportionately celebrated white male artists.
Beyoncé fan account @BeyLegion cited the 2016 performance to criticize the CMAs.
“This is the Country Music Awards that deleted all video and editorial evidence of Beyoncé’s 2016 CMAs performance after bowing to pressure from racist extremists who objected to a black female artist successfully transitioning into a genre that originated with black Americans,” the account posted.
The CMAs have once again given way to industry insiders who love 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 #BEEF.
The CC era has received… photo.twitter.com/x0stYM1xAG
— BEYONCÉ LEGION 𐚁 (@BeyLegion) September 9, 2024
The album “Cowboy Carter” itself is a blueprint for inclusivity. Beyoncé features a diverse array of talent including country icons Willie Nelson, Linda Martell and Dolly Parton. Post Malone and Miley Cyrus appear on duets.
Shaboozey, who received two CMA nominations this year, appeared twice on “Cowboy Carter.” He didn’t hesitate to praise Beyoncé and her contributions to country music on Monday morning.
The “A Bar Song (Gettin’ Tipsy)” artist tweeted, “Thank you @Beyonce for opening the door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!”
That goes without saying. Thank you. @Beyonce opened a door for us, started a conversation, and gave us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!
— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) September 9, 2024
Tattooed rapper and singer Post Malone, who appeared in “Cowboy Carter” with Beyoncé in “Levii Jeans,” also released his first country album this year. Titled “I Had Some Help,” the album earned him four CMA nominations.
Looking at the bright side, some fans speculate that this snub was part of Beyoncé’s plan to get people talking.
“Beyoncé left the door open for them to express their racism, and they did,” one post read.
Beyonce Tags, Country Music