Luke Bryan angered the BeyHive with his comments about Beyoncé and her not being nominated for her album cowboy Carter and its follow-up singles at this year’s Country Music Association awards.
The ‘American Idol’ judge addressed the situation calling it a “difficult” situation, noting Beyoncé’s impact on country music over the past year after making a country album.
“I’m always in favor of people coming in and making country music albums. Sometimes you don’t get nominated,” he shared during an appearance on SiriusXM’s ‘Andy Cohen Live’.
“But things get a little bit difficult — if you’re going to do country albums, come into our world and country with us a little bit. Like, Beyoncé can do exactly what she She’s probably the biggest star in music. But come to an awards show and high-five us and have fun and mingle with the family … but country music is a lot about family,” he added.
Bryan’s comments did not go down well with the BeyHive, who attacked Bryan for his words. Some mentioned racist comments Beyoncé received after performing with The Chicks in 2016. One audience member recalled on CNN Call Me Country: The Renaissance of Beyoncé and Nashville documentary where one person even called Beyoncé “that black bitch,” according to Page Six.
Even some executives were worried about what Beyoncé might do during her performance on the show. Several people told TMZ they were “concerned about the reaction to Beyoncé’s support and the Dixie Chicks’ support of the Black Lives Matter movement.”
“What I wish artists like @lukebryan would admit is that Beyoncé did in fact go to the awards show, perform, and talk to people but she encountered racism, sexism, and harassment. viewers called her TERRIBLE names and NO ONE protected her from CMAS. You didn’t welcome her,” one fan noted.
What I wish artists would like @lukebryan admitted that Beyoncé did in fact go to the awards show, perform, and talk to people but she was met with racism, sexism, and was called TERRIBLE names by viewers and NO ONE protected her from CMAS. You didn’t welcome her. https://t.co/LTDUCXP6Ik
– Rickey Wax (@waxxdoll) October 2, 2024
“I really like that Luke Bryan invited Beyoncé to an awards show to *check notes* high-five them to be part of the country music family. Please be serious… “, another added.
Really liked that Luke Bryan invited Beyoncé to an awards show to *check notes* high-five them to be part of the family in country music. Please be so serious… pic.twitter.com/E8Urf57Wjl
— D tanner (@literallytanner) October 2, 2024
“Come into OUR WORLD !!!! OUR WORLD ????????? The world she Grew Up in ??? Mind you Luke Bryan was born in GEORGIA ! How dare you give yourself the right to INVITE or ACCEPT a Woman from Houston Texas to Country culture? Give us a high five…lmaoooo it was the vile people who slandered her when she performed with The Chicks Be Really!” someone else commented.
Come to OUR WORLD!!!! OUR WORLD???????? The world in which she GROWS UP??? Please note that Luke Bryan was born in GEORGIA! How dare you give yourself the right to INVITE, or ACCEPT a Woman from Houston Texas into Country culture? Give us a high five…lmaoooo such low lives… https://t.co/zpYyMqpwQG
— Anthony🤠 (@anthony_MB75) October 2, 2024
Fans also brought country music star Keith Urban into the conversation because he is from Australia, and many believe that Beyoncé has more country roots since she grew up in Houston.
“Hey @lukebryan Beyoncé WAS BORN IN TEXAS. On the other hand, Keith Urban was born in AUSTRALIA! Are you really trying to say that TEXAS BORN Beyoncé isn’t country enough for you? Maybe you don’t know the origins of country music? Or is your racism on the rise?” asked one fan.
Greet @lukebryan Beyoncé WAS BORN IN TEXAS.
On the other hand, Keith Urban was born in AUSTRALIA!
Are you really trying to say that TEXAS BORN Beyoncé isn’t country enough for you?
Maybe you don’t know the origin of Country music? Or is your racism going on? pic.twitter.com/858aqH0kRK
– Give POTUS 🪷 Harris House AND Senate (@DessaBlake) October 3, 2024
“Do we need to remind him that Keith Urban is from Australia? But oh, Beyonce, a native of Texas, needs to prove herself in a genre that black people created?” suggested an X user.
Do we need to remind him that Keith Urban is from Australia? But oh, Texas native Beyonce needs to prove herself in a genre that black people created? pic.twitter.com/inKouUsU2R
– Z, Queen of Random (@zajanatural) October 3, 2024
Beyoncé herself has not yet spoken out about Bryan’s words when reporting the news, nor has she spoken out about her cold attitude at the CMAs.
Even so, cowboy Carter made Beyonce the first black woman to top Billboard’s Top Country Albums chart as well as the first black woman to debut at No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs with the song “Texas Hold ‘Em”. The album was widely praised by critics and currently holds a score of 91/100 on Metacritic.
Tags Beyonce, Luke Bryan, Keith Urban