"The blatant disregard screams racism": Beyonce fans call out the CMAs over 'Cowboy Carter' nominations snub

The Country Music Awards recently came under fire from Beyonce's supporters for not nominating the singer in any category for the 2024 ceremony. This happened even after her recent album Cowboy Carter, which is seen by many as a country album, became a massive hit and debuted at No. 1 in several countries after its release in March 2024.

After the CMA nominations were announced, members of the Beyhive took to X to criticize the award show for sidelining Cowboy Carter. Many even called out the CMA organizers as "racist" for not considering the top-charting album. Expressing this sentiment, an X user wrote:

“The blatant disregard screams racism. You can’t dress it up any other way."

“That racism is good and strong for a genre that we as black people created," another X user said.

“Beyonce having the best country album and country song and still not receiving any nominations doesn’t sit right with me," another netizen said.

A few people pointed out that artist Morgan Wallen, who has previously received backlash for his racist remarks, topped the list with seven nominations.

Let’s tell the full story. It is not just that they didn’t nominate Beyonce in a single category. It is also that THIS Morgan Wallen received the most nominations. CMA could not be clearer about their vile racist values. Now watch them still ask Beyonce to perform/present," an X user opined.

However, many, on the other hand, agreed with the decision and said that Cowboy Carter was a pop album and hence doesn't deserve nominations in the CMA Awards.

“This is an R&B/Pop album with country themes thrown in," said one X user.

"I really want people who never listened to Cowboy Carter to please stop speaking on it and Beyoncé. CC has R&B, Hip Hop, Rock & Roll, blues, folk, funk, opera, gospel, psychedelic soul, bluegrass, & pop on it," argued another.

“Well duh. It wasn’t a country album. It was a “Beyoncé” album”, another netizen urged.

---

Beyonce also faced criticism after her 2016 CMA performance

Texas Hold 'Em, debuted at the top of Billboard's Top Country Albums chart (Image via Getty Images/Lester Cohen)

In March 2024, Beyonce released Cowboy Carter, with a 27-song tracklist, that featured collaborations with both young and veteran country music icons, including Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, and Linda Martell.

The album's lead song, Texas Hold 'Em, debuted at the top of the Billboard 200 and Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, with this Beyonce became the first black woman to top the Country Albums chart since the chart's 1964 launch.

Despite these milestones, the lack of any nominations at CMAs came as a shock to the fans. However, many are now speculating that the sidelining could be due to the negative feedback the multiple Grammy-winning artist received for her 2016 CMA performance.

Back in March, Beyonce shared a long note about being the first Black woman with the number one single on the Hot Country Songs chart. In her Instagram post, she mentioned Cowboy Carter was born out of an "experience" that happened years ago where she "did not feel welcomed". She added, "The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me."

Many are speculating that the Love On Top hitmaker was referring to her 2016 Country Music Awards performance, where she and the country group The Chicks performed her song Daddy Lessons. Following her performance at the 2016 CMA, she was met with negative and racist comments on social media. The CMA then removed a post that was promoting her and The Chicks.

---

So far Beyonce or her representatives have not said anything about the 2024 CMA nominations.