Shaboozey and Beyoncé‘s father – Matthew Knowles – have shared their thoughts on the singer not receiving any nominations at this year’s Country Music Awards.
The nominations for this year’s CMAs were released recently, with the likes of Morgan Wallen, Jelly Roll and more being put forward for the most prestigious awards in country music.
Beyoncé released her first-ever country record, ‘Cowboy Carter’, back in April and – despite making history as the first Black woman to top the Country Billboard album and singles charts – she wasn’t nominated for any category at the upcoming ceremony.
Country’s biggest rising star Shaboozey commented on Beyoncé – who he worked with on ‘Spaghetti’ from ‘Cowboy Carter’ – not earning any nods at the 2024 CMAs.
While celebrating being nominated for Best New Artist and Single Of The Year after the success of his breakout Number One hit ‘A Bar Song (Tipsy)’, he thanked the Houston singer for “opening a door” for Black people in the genre.
“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!” he wrote on his social media channels.
See the posts below.
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
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Wrote a song about winning a CMA in 2016, and now I’m nominated for 2! Thank you @CountryMusic and congrats to the other nominees. What an honor would be an understatement. #CMAawards pic.twitter.com/144ebCwYdM
— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) September 9, 2024
Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, also spoke about his daughter not being recognised at this year’s CMAs. He told TMZ: “There’s more white people in America and unfortunately they don’t vote based on ability and achievements, it’s still sometimes a white and black thing” – insinuating that there was some sort of racial bias behind the decision.
Knowles emphasised that he doesn’t think the CMA voters are racist, but he said Beyoncé being snubbed “speaks for itself”.
Legendary pop pioneer Dionne Warwick even weighed in on Beyoncé being forgotten at this year’s CMAs. She retweeted the news with the caption: “Absolutely ridiculous.” See the post below.
Absolutely ridiculous. https://t.co/4mM10lPXPc
— Dionne Warwick (@dionnewarwick) September 9, 2024
Some fans online found it hypocritical that Post Malone – originally a pop-rap artist – was nominated for Single Of The Year, Musical Event Of The Year and Music Video Of The Year at the 2024 CMAs for his chart-topping single, ‘I Need Some Help’ with Morgan Wallen. He has only released one country album throughout his career, this year’s ‘F-1 Trillion’.
The 2024 Country Music Awards will air on November 20 on the USA network ABC.
When ‘Cowboy Carter’ was released this April, NME awarded the record a full five stars: “In the age of stan culture, sceptics will argue that objective criticism of Beyoncé can feel hard to come by. Those who don’t already love country may find some of ‘Cowboy Carter’s balladeering sections to be a little long, or query whether an artist of Beyoncé’s stature is invoking certain ironies when she rallies her audience to ‘stand for something,’ given her own relative quiet on recent political affairs.
“But even if interpreted only on the grounds of artistic spectacle, it’s an undeniable thrill to see her swing so big on a project that dares her to be so intimate and vocal-focused, while making way for country’s up-and-comers too.”