Music legend Beyoncé received zero nominations at the 2024 Country Music Awards despite releasing the record-breaking and history-making “Cowboy Carter” album.
With nominations announced on Sep. 9, although pop-turned country-stars like Post Malone received four nominations, Beyoncé was excluded from all the categories announced for the awards show.
While albums such as Kacey Musgraves’ “Deeper Well,” Luke Combs’ “Fathers & Sons” and Chris Stapleton’s “Higher” all received nominations, “Cowboy Carter” was omitted from the Album of the Year category.
“Texas Hold ‘Em” was also noticeably absent from the lists, failing to receive a nomination for Single of the Year. Emerging country artist Shaboozey, who featured on “Cowboy Carter,” however did receive a nomination for his hit single, “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”
When nominations were announced, he took to X, formerly Twitter, to celebrate his nomination while also emphasizing the role Beyoncé played in the reclamation of the genre by Black country artists.
“That goes without saying,” said Shaboozey. “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!”
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
When Beyoncé first announced “Cowboy Carter,” she shared that the album was created because of an experience where she “did not feel welcome,” which then inspired her to study the history of country music.
The experience is widely believed to be an appearance she made at the 2016 CMAs where she performed “Daddy Lessons” with the Chicks; following the performance, she was the target of backlash from viewers that was rooted in racism.
Since its release, “Cowboy Carter” has broken numerous records with “Texas Hold ‘Em” earning her the title of the first Black female artist to receive a No. 1 country song. The album also debuted on numerous charts, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to get a number-one country album.
All of the tracks also charted on the Billboard Hot 100, earning Shaboozey, Linda Martell, Tanner Adell, Tiera Kennedy, Reyna Roberts, Brittney Spencer and Willie Jones their first entries into the chart.
“Cowboy Carter” also started a national discussion on the history of the genre and the role that Black artists have played in creating it.
“When you are breaking down barriers, not everyone is ready and open for a shift. But when I see Shaboozey tearing the charts up and all the beautiful female country singers flying to new heights, inspiring the world, that is exactly what motivates me,” said Beyoncé per the Hollywood Reporter. “I’m honored to introduce so many people to the roots of so many genres. I’m so 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,” she added.
