It looks like the Country Music Association Awards have caused quite a stir this year—and not just because Morgan Wallen and Chris Stapleton are leading the pack with their nominations. Nope, the buzz is mostly about who didn’t get nominated: Beyoncé. After releasing her much-hyped “Cowboy Carter” album, which had a brief flirtation with the country charts, the Queen Bey found herself completely shut out of the CMAs. Not a single nomination. And, as expected, her fan base is not taking it well.
Morgan Wallen dominated with seven nominations, and country heavyweights like Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson followed closely behind with five each. Meanwhile, rapper-turned-country artist Post Malone nabbed four nods, apparently because even the CMAs couldn’t ignore his unexpected dip into the genre. Newcomers like Lainey Wilson are also riding high with four nominations. But as the dust settled on these announcements, there was one glaring omission: Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, an album that her fans insist “brought millions of new listeners to the genre.”
THE KING @MorganWallen is the most-nominated artist at this year’s #CMAs with 7:
– Entertainer*
– Male Vocalist*
– Single (I Had Some Help with Post Malone)*
– Song (I Had Some Help)*
– Event (Man Made A Bar, I Had Some Help)*
– Music Video (I Had Some Help)**of the year pic.twitter.com/swKm0YmjB7
— Morgan Wallen (@UpdatesOfMorgan) September 9, 2024
Now, let’s take a moment to appreciate the sheer absurdity of this. First of all, Beyoncé herself went on record before the album’s release, making it clear that Cowboy Carter was a “Beyoncé album” and not a full-fledged country project. In her own words, “This ain’t a Country album.”
But now, her fans are crying foul, claiming that the CMAs are racist for failing to recognize her foray into a genre she only dabbled in for a quick moment of chart success. Never mind the fact that she topped the Billboard country charts for exactly two weeks, compared to Morgan Wallen’s 19-week reign. Somehow, that’s enough for her fans to accuse the CMAs of “denying Black artists the recognition they deserve.”
Mathew Knowles Says Race Is Factor In Beyoncé Getting No CMA Nominations | Click to read more https://t.co/cAgqBDEf82
— TMZ (@TMZ) September 9, 2024
One fan went all-in on the outrage, ranting on social media about how Beyoncé’s album “outperformed nearly all other releases this year” and “put country on the spotlight again.” Let’s be real here—Beyoncé hopping on the country train for a couple of weeks doesn’t suddenly make her the new queen of the genre. Meanwhile, country artists like Wallen and Stapleton have been putting in the work for years, building their fan bases and, you know, actually making country music.
Beyoncé shut out of Country Music Association Awards with no nominations ‘Cowboy Carter’ https://t.co/eL4YZpJsUA
— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) September 9, 2024
And then there’s the wild claim that Post Malone getting four nominations is proof of “racism” because apparently, Cowboy Carter was snubbed solely on account of Beyoncé’s race. Never mind that Post Malone—who’s known for hip-hop and rock—has also barely dipped his toe into country, but managed to earn some recognition because he brought something fresh and authentic to the table. Maybe that’s the key difference here: authenticity. Post Malone showed up ready to embrace the genre. Beyoncé? Well, she made sure everyone knew this wasn’t really a country album.
The CMAs will air on November 20, and you can bet Beyoncé’s fans will still be seething about this “snub.” But for those who actually follow country music, it’s just business as usual—nominations going to artists who live in the genre, not just visit for a quick stay on the charts.
