Source: Michael Buckner / Getty
don’t want her to see her set any more records. The latest snub for her album
Cowboy Carter was at the People’s Choice Country Awards, where the album came in with 17 nods.
Yoncé competed for awards including Top Artist, Female Artist, Social Country Star, Collaboration Song, Cover Song, and Album. She
lost out to country staples Zach Bryan, Kacey Musgraves, Lainey Wilson, and Morgan Wallen, some of the genre’s top hitmakers.
Beyoncé’s loyal fanbase saw it as a snub, given that the Country Music Association gave her no nominations at all, despite
Cowboy Carter featuring country queen Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson,
Miley Cyrus, and newcomer Shaboozey, whose hit ” A Bar Song (Tipsy)” is locked in at the top of the country charts where it has been for weeks.
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Shaboozey, so far, is the biggest beneficiary of the attention around Cowboy Carter, and he thanked her while picking up his People’s Choice Country Award for New Artist.
“Thank you Beyoncé,” he said. “You’re amazing.”
Now, let’s unpack. Was this really a snub? Some would argue, yes, given that Machine Gun Kelly and Jelly Roll, neither of whom are country artists were embraced by fans. Kelly won an award for Best Cover for the Zach Bryan-penned song “Sun To Me.” He and Jelly Roll were also winners with “Lonely Road,” for Best Crossover Song.
And let’s not forget that Nelly also made the crossover to country music with his hit “Lil Bit” with Florida Georgia Line, the third song they made together, starting with the remix of “Cruise” that sold 2.5 million copies in 2013. He was embraced by the country scene, performing with the group several times on awards shows and on tour.
Beyoncé could very likely pick up more Grammy nods in the country or Americana category, which is where the album’s eclectic mix of soft rock, country, R&B, and roots music really fits best. But the Grammy’s voting membership, which votes in those specific categories, might not think it works well enough in any of those genres to take a vote from a more established star.
While the CMA may indeed have snubbed Beyoncé, given that “Texas Hold ‘Em” was the first-ever country music no.1 song for a Black female artist, it’s also true that Beyoncé has barely promoted the album since its release back in March. She hasn’t announced a tour, done any TV promotion, or released any videos from the project.
As Beyoncé, she doesn’t have to, but for this album project, maybe the most satisfying achievement was doing it in the first place. She famously said that she was inspired to make the album based on
the reception to her song “Daddy Lessons” a country tune from
Lemonade that she performed at the CMA’s with The Chicks in 2016.
“When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift. But when I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me,” she told The Hollywood Reporter in a statement.
She added, “There was a time when charts and sales excited and motivated me. Once you have challenged yourself and poured every ounce of your life, your pain, your growth, and your dreams into your art, it’s impossible to go backward. I’m very grateful and humbled for the extraordinary success of the new album.”
See how social media is reacting to the snub below.
