The Country Music Awards are set for November, and the association is facing criticism over its nominations list, which notably excludes Beyoncé despite the release of her highly praised country-themed album, Cowboy Carter. Despite her single “Texas Hold ‘Em” topping the charts, the Beyhive is up in arms over the 43-year-old superstar’s lack of nominations.
The list includes several prominent country artists such as Kacey Musgraves, Jelly Roll, and Kelsea Ballerini. With the awards show approaching, HollywoodLife has gathered key details about the CMAs.
Morgan Wallen leads the nominations with seven, followed by Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson with five each. Post Malone and Lainey Wilson also stand out with four nominations apiece.
Beyoncé, who released her eighth studio album embracing her Texas roots, achieved significant success, holding the top spot on Billboard’s Top Country Albums Chart for four weeks. Fans were nonetheless surprised by her exclusion from the nominations.
In a June statement to Billboard, Beyoncé expressed, “I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m thrilled that my fans trusted me. The music industry gatekeepers are not happy about the idea of bending genres, especially coming from a Black artist and definitely not a woman.”
Known for her diverse musical style, Beyoncé has ventured into various genres, including Pop and Dance, while staying true to her roots. Her Lemonade album featured country influences in the track “Daddy Lessons,” and with Cowboy Carter, she further explored the genre, collaborating with artists like Dolly Parton, Miley Cyrus, and Shaboozey.
In a March 19 post, she noted, “I did a deeper dive into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world while also amplifying the voices of those who have dedicated their lives to preserving our musical history.”
