Beyoncé’s treatment at a previous Country Music Awards ceremony may have inspired her latest country music album, Cowboy Carter. Despite having one of the biggest country hits of the year with Texas Hold ‘Em, Beyoncé was notably absent from the list of nominees for this year’s CMAs.
Fans had high expectations for Beyoncé to be recognized at the awards, with speculation that she could become the first black woman to be shortlisted for album of the year. However, Morgan Wallen ended up with the most nominations, three years after being suspended by his record label for using a racial slur.
Beyoncé’s album, Cowboy Carter, was born out of an experience she had years ago where she did not feel welcome at a previous CMA ceremony. This prompted her to take a deeper dive into the history of country music and create an album that explores the roots of American musical traditions and the contributions made by black artists.
Despite being snubbed by the CMAs, Billboard classified Cowboy Carter as a country album for chart purposes, and the single Texas Hold ‘Em spent 10 weeks at the top of the country music chart. Beyoncé also received 12 nominations for the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, more than any other artist.
The winners of this year’s CMA Awards will be revealed at a ceremony at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, 20 November. The nominees include artists like Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, and more. Stay tuned to see who takes home the top honors in country music.
