The Country Music Association is facing backlash after Beyoncé didn't receive any nominations for their upcoming award ceremony.
On Monday (September 9), the nominees for the 58th CMA Awards were announced. Fans quickly pointed out that Bey didn't earn any nods after releasing her historic country album Cowboy Carter earlier this year.
Many expected the singer to become the first Black woman to be nominated for Album of the Year at the CMAs. Social media users also expressed disbelief over "Texas Hold 'Em," the lead single off Cowboy Carter, not earning a nod. The hit led to Bey making history as the first Black woman artist to top Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart.
Ahead of Cowboy Carter's release, Beyoncé said her groundbreaking country album was "born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t." Many fans speculated the singer was alluding to the backlash she received from her 2016 performance of "Daddy Lessons" at the CMA Awards.
Bey's latest album has also been widely recognized as a tribute to Black musicians' contributions to country music and a reclamation of the genre. Cowboy Carter included collaborations with Black country music artists like pioneer Linda Martell and rising stars Brittney Spencer, Reyna Roberts, Tiera Kennedy, Tanner Adell, and Shaboozey, who earned two CMA nominations.
On Monday, Shaboozey thanked Beyoncé for opening the door for Black country artists.
"That goes without saying. 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!" he wrote.
See how social media users reacted to Bey being shut out of this year's CMAs below.
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