The Country Music Awards (CMAs) nominations were announced on Monday September 9, but one notable name was missing: Beyoncé.

The singer released her first full-length country album, “Cowboy Carter,” in March, sparking excitement among fans and industry insiders alike.

However, fans expressed disappointment over the CMAs’ decision to exclude Beyoncé from the nominations. The snub drew criticism, especially after the singer had previously shared that she felt unwelcome in the country music genre.

Also Read: Beyoncé gets multiple nominations at 2024 People’s Choice Country Music Awards

Beyoncé has yet to comment on the CMAs’ omission, but earlier this year, she opened up on Instagram about the inspiration behind “Cowboy Carter.” She revealed the album was “born out of an experience” where she didn’t feel accepted in the country music scene.

“The criticisms I faced when I first entered this genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,” she wrote, adding that this experience inspired her to take a “deeper dive” into country music.

Many fans speculated that she was referring to the backlash she faced after performing “Daddy Lessons” with The Chicks at the 2016 CMAs.

Beyoncé’s lead single from Cowboy Carter, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” was also notably left off the nominations list, despite its historic success. Released in February, the song became the first by a Black female artiste to top Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart, further fueling fans’ surprise over the CMA snub.

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Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter has been hailed as a tribute to the contributions of Black musicians to country music. Many see the album as a reclamation of the genre, which has long been dominated by white male artists. Black country musicians hoped that Cowboy Carter would shine a spotlight on their work and bring much-needed recognition to Black artists in the country scene.

Beyoncé collaborated with several Black country artists on the project, including trailblazer Linda Martell and rising stars Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, and Shaboozey.

Shaboozey, who appeared on two tracks from the album, earned two nominations at this year’s Country Music Awards. His track “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” was nominated for Single of the Year, and he received a nomination for New Artist of the Year.

In response to the nominations, Shaboozey took to X on Monday to celebrate his success and express gratitude to Beyoncé, writing, “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!”

Meanwhile, Morgan Wallen dominated the nominations on Monday, securing eight nods. His collaboration with Post Malone, “I Had Some Help,” was recently named Billboard’s Song of the Summer, thanks to its strong chart performance.

Post Malone, who also ventured into country music with his debut album this year and teamed up with Beyoncé on “Cowboy Carter,” received four nominations for “I Had Some Help.”

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