Celebs and insiders had mixed takes. Kelly Clarkson, who’s had her own country music hurdles as a crossover star, was shocked. “I find it strange; those songs were everywhere,” she told NBC10 Boston. She shared how she was once told her country music wasn’t welcome unless she dove in fully. “The door seemed shut unless I committed,” she said, relating to Beyoncé.
Whoopi Goldberg was more neutral. On The View, she said, “I don’t think it was a snub; it just wasn’t their thing.” Her view added depth, hinting the slight might not be on purpose but due to the CMA’s old ways.
Country stars Dolly Parton and Luke Bryan chimed in. Parton liked Beyoncé’s work but noted the CMA’s focus on long-time genre players. Bryan said Beyoncé could’ve mingled more with the country crowd: “Come to an award show, mingle, and be part of the crew.”