Texas, wait!
Despite the historic success on the country charts this year, Beyonce was left out of the nominations for the 2024 CMA Awards, released on Monday.
In an ignominious incident, there were no nominations for “Cowboy Carter” or its hit singles. “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which peaked at No. 1 on the Billboard Top Country Albums and Hot Country Songs charts, respectively — making Bey the first Black woman to achieve these feats in the predominantly white genre.
“Cowboy Carter” — that included everyone dolly parton and from Willie Nelson to Miley Cyrus and Post Malone — spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart, while “Texas Hold 'Em” reigned at the top spot on Hot Country Songs for 10 weeks. Seven other “Cowboy Carter” tracks also hit the top 10 of the Hot Country Songs chart.
“Cowboy Carter” and “Texas Hold 'Em” both topped the Billboard 200 albums chart and Hot 100 singles table, respectively.
But none of that was enough to earn Beyoncé a CMA nomination for Album of the Year, Single of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, or any of the other categories she was eligible for.
The shutout comes eight years after Beyoncé performed “Daddy Lessons” — her country tune from “Lemonade” — with the Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards. The singer speculation increased The cold reception he received at that event inspired him to create “Cowboy Carter”.
“This stems from an experience I had several years ago where I felt like I wasn't welcome … and it was very clear that I wasn't welcome,” she wrote in an Instagram post in March.
“But, because of that experience, I dived deeper into the history of country music and studied our rich music archive.”
Indeed, Beyoncé highlights country music's Black roots in “Cowboy Carter,” including Linda Martell, who in 1969 was the first African-American female artist to perform at the Grand Ole Opry.
Queen Bee also featured other black country artists on the album, including Brittany Spencer. Willie Jones and Shaboozi, whose No. 1 smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” She received CMA nominations for Best Single of the Year and Best New Artist of the Year.
“Thank you @Beyonce for opening the door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums ever!” Shaboozy written on x after the CMA nominations were announced.
Leading the nominees is country sensation Morgan Wallen with seven nominations, followed by fellow Entertainer of the Year contender Chris Stapleton and “Dirt Cheap” singer Cody Johnson with five nominations each.
Tied with four nominations each are Lainey Wilson and Post Malone, who partnered with Wallen on “I Need Some Help” after working with Beyoncé on the “Cowboy Carter” track “Levi’s Jeans.”
