Beyonce Snubbed By Prestigious Music Awards

While obvious country artists like Morgan Wallen, Cody Johnson, Chris Stapleton, and Lainey Wilson are all nominated in several categories, you might be surprised to find that Post Malone and Shaboozey are also both on the list.

Post Malone has long been known for his hip hop, R&B, and even rap rock, while country is brand new for him. And Shaboozey wasn’t even a household name until Beyonce added him to two of the tracks on her new album, so why are these guys nominated while Queen Bey sits out in the cold? 

There could be several reasons, first of which may be that Beyonce herself announced, just before Cowboy Carter’s release, long before any awards discussion, that “This is not a country album. It’s a Beyonce album.” She never intended for this album, or, presumably, any of its songs to be considered country.

Indeed, fans and haters alike took to the airwaves to debate this issue when the hit from the album, “Texas Hold ‘Em” came out. On both sides of the aisle, people agreed that the song is not country. You can love the song, and you can love the sound, but that doesn’t make it country. 

Then there’s the issue of Beyonce’ being snubbed’s presence at the Country Music Awards in the past. In November of 2016, Beyonce appeared on stage with the Chicks to perform her song “Daddy Lessons,” a song with a clear country tilt to it.

Bringing in the Chicks made it even more country than it already was. Now, Queen Bey was obviously not snubbed by the actual CMAs as they are the ones who invited her to perform. But the backlash from country fans around the United States was like a shot heard round the world. The people have spoken, and they do not believe Beyonce has any place in country music. 

Still, this backlash may have been due to the fact that the Chicks and Beyonce are all outwardly vocal about supporting Democrats and liberals in politics. Remember, the Chicks were flung out of the country music scene back in 2003 when they said onstage in the UK that they were ashamed to be from Texas, the same state as then U.S. President George W. Bush.

Beyonce has been a solid supporter and friend to Barack and Michelle Obama. Many country fans are Republicans. 

There’s also the most obvious answer, and the one most people likely turn to — country music simply does not hold space for women of color. While Shaboozey is the latest, country music has also seen the success of men like Cowboy Troy, Charley Pride, and Jimmie Allen.

You will be hard pressed to see Black women or other women of color winning Country Music Awards. At the same time, Tracy Chapman did win Song of the Year back in 2023. Of course, it was Luke Combs’ version that won.

It is really anyone’s guess why Beyonce has been left off the awards list at the CMAs this year, or in years past. Perhaps it is as Whoopie Goldberg said recently on The View, “I don’t think she was snubbed, I think they just didn’t… it wasn’t for them.” That explanation is as good as any. At least Kanye won’t rush the stage and embarrass Taylor Swift at this awards show.