But while Beyoncé was busy turning the world’s attention to the rich history of Black artists in country music, the CMA was seemingly hard at work plotting her downfall. As the 2024 CMA Award nominations were announced, many were shocked to see that Beyoncé’s name was entirely absent from the list, despite her undeniable chart success and critical acclaim.
The snub alone was bad enough, but the real bombshell came in the form of a shocking statement from the CMA itself, released mere hours after fans began to express their outrage on social media.
“While we respect Ms. Knowles-Carter’s talents and contributions to the music industry,” the statement read, “we must maintain the integrity of the country music genre. Her latest album does not align with our vision of traditional country, and as such, we have made the difficult decision to ban her from all future CMA events and considerations. She can never be country.”
The statement, which has since been dubbed the “Nashville Declaration of No-Beyoncé,” sent shockwaves through the entertainment world. Fans of country music and Beyoncé alike flooded Twitter (or X, as the tech overlords now demand we call it) with hashtags like #JusticeForBey and #CMAIsCancelled.
One particularly passionate fan wrote, “Y’all are really out here saying BEYONCÉ isn’t good enough for country music? The same Beyoncé who just gave us ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’? The same Beyoncé who covered Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’? Y’all tripping.”
Speaking of Dolly Parton, the country icon herself weighed in on the controversy, and as always, she did not disappoint.