The 2024 Country Music Awards (CMA) stirred up a hornet’s nest when Beyoncé, a music icon, got no nods despite her smash hit Texas Hold ‘Em and lauded country-themed album Cowboy Carter. The Beyhive went ballistic, and the snub set off a firestorm among fans, critics, and celebs, bringing up issues of race, genre lines, and diversity in country music.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, out in February 2024, was a gutsy foray into country, mixing her style with country roots. The lead single, Texas Hold ‘Em, ruled the Billboard Hot 100 and made history as a rare Black woman’s hit in country. But despite its acclaim and chart success—even making Rolling Stone’s “200 Greatest Country Songs of All Time”—the CMA gave it the cold shoulder.
Fans cried foul, calling it a “robbery” and pointing to past snubs. “How can you skip her for Artist of the Year after topping charts?” one tweeted, with similar gripes all over social media.