“She was totally robbed!” That’s what some outragedBeyoncéfans are saying after the artist was locked out of the2024 editionof theCountry Music Awards(CMA).
As the nominees for the ceremony were announced this Monday morning (August 9), the singer did not receive a single nomination despite having one of thebiggest country hits of the year,Texas Hold ‘Em.
HighlightsBeyoncé fans express outrage after she received zero nominations at the 2024 Country Music Awards despite her hit song Texas Hold ‘Em.Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter topped the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, making her the first Black woman to achieve this feat as a solo artist.Fans believe Beyoncé’s snub was due to her politically charged 2016 CMA performance, while The Chicks' Natalie Maines cites racism as a factor.
Fans and critics expected Beyoncé to get some recognition at the awards, with some eagerly awaiting her becoming the first black woman to ever be shortlisted for Album of the Year, thanks to her 8th record,Cowboy Carter.
“For them to disrespect her that way was disgusting,” said Natalie Maines ofThe Chicksabout the incident.
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Beyoncé was “robbed” at the 2024 Country Music Awards, receiving zero nominations despite topping the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart with her albumCowboy Carter
Image credits:CMA
Despite not being considered for the awards, the success ofTexas Hold ‘Emspeaks for itself, having reigned at the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart for 10 consecutive weeks, making it the second-longest chart-topping song of the year.
Image credits:Beyoncé
Fans and media outlets theorized that her “snubbing” was in response to her aforementioned 2016 performance, which many considered politically charged at the time, making reference to movements such as Black Lives Matter. The CMA removed her out of the need to, allegedly, distance itself from such topics.
Beyoncé described her album as going beyond country music and hinted that she made it in response to the backlash she received from the CMA back in 2016
“This ain’t a Country album. This is a‘Beyoncé’album,” she wrote in an Instagram post back in March. Despite herstatement, Billboard classified the recording as country in their charts.
The singer went on to explain, “[The album was] born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed… and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” which fans interpreted as a clear reference to the 2016 incident.
Lyrics of the album’s hits, such as those found on the trackAmeriican Requiem,directly address her critics: “Used to say I spoke too country, and the rejection came, said I wasn’t country enough. Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but If that ain’t country, tell me what is?”
Image credits:beyonce
Morgan Wallen walked away with the highest number of nominations at seven, with four of those being for his songI Had Some Helpfeaturing Post Malone
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…pic.twitter.com/x0stYM1xAG
— BEYONCÉ LEGION 𐚁 (@BeyLegion)September 9, 2024
Other nominees include Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson, who each landed five nominations.
Among those vying for the highest CMA accolade, Entertainer of the Year, are Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, Lainey Wilson, as well as the aforementioned Stapleton and Wallen.
Interestingly,Shaboozey, who is featured onCowboy Carter, was also able to secure nominations for Single of the Year and New Artist of the Year, thanks toA Bar Song, one of the year’s biggest country hits, displacing evenTexas Hold ‘Emearlier this year.
Netizens gave mixed reactions to the news of the artist’s “snubbing,” with her fans being angry and her detractors congratulating the CMA for not allowing “fake country” to be part of the ceremony
News of Beyonce’s absence from the award nominations drew a mixed response.Fans of the artisttook to social media to express their anger over the decision, considering it as “spiteful” and even “racist.”
“At this point, it’s gotta be spiteful. How do you not nominate her for Artist of the Year after sitting on the Country charts for an entire week? Also, Beyonce isn’t country, but Post Malone is?” wrote one fan.
More neutral netizens expressed a more diverse range of opinions, with some congratulating the awards for not letting what they described as “fake country” compete in the ceremony.
“Even after all the millions she spent shoving her fake country down everyone’s throats? Shocking,” stated one of her critics.
“They definitely made the right decision! It wasn’t country!” another said.
Others were more uncertain, enjoying the artist’s music but considering it to be too extravagant to be grouped with more conventional country music.
“Well, her attempt was interesting but not award worthy, in my opinion. If she’s serious about that genre, she’ll give it a real effort in the future,” one netizen wrote.
The Country Music Awards are set to air on November 20, 2024, and will be broadcast on ABC.
Netizens couldn’t agree on the CMA’s decision, with some supporting the actress, others getting upset about her lack of nominations, and some glad at her absence
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