By snubbing Beyoncé’s ‘Cowboy Carter,’ the Country Music Awards prove her right

MUSIC – Queen B may have reconnected with her Texan roots, but the doors of the temple of country music remain closed to her. Beyoncé is still not welcome at the Country Music Awards ceremony, whose nominations announcement on Monday, September 9 caused a stir due to the absence of Cowboy Carter, album with a country tone claimed by the world queen of R’n’B and her hit Texas Hold’Em.

The circle is complete: in 2016, « Queen Bey » had been the victim of racism after playing his country song Daddy Lessons at the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. An experience that largely inspired the writing of Cowboy Carter. “The criticism that was aimed at me when I set foot in [la country] forced me to go beyond my own limits”she wrote on Instagram. The album was released at the end of March “is the result of the challenges I set myself and the time I took to twist and mix genres for this work”.

Born in Houston to a mother from Louisiana and a father from Alabama, Beyoncé, 43, became the first black singer to have a song top the country charts in late February, even before the album was released. She could have become the first black woman nominated in the category “best album” country awards to be presented on November 20 in Nashville.

A snob who speaks volumes

The American media have been numerous in highlighting the notable absence of Beyoncé in the nominations, not without criticizing the Country Music Association in passing. “The fact that she was snubbed is not really surprising”writes the New York Times in reference to the little space given to the album by country radios.

“Those who want to hear his music and his message have listened to him. When it comes to the Country Music Association, the volume will never be loud enough to restore hearing to those who turn a deaf ear.”the magazine rages for its part Rolling Stones.

“Such a blatant snub only indicates that the CMA’s nominating committee couldn’t bear the thought of a black woman who didn’t fit their idea of ​​a country star winning the night’s most important categories — so they chose not to recognize her at all.”accuses an editorial in Harpers Bazaar.

Beyoncé Featured Artists Nominated

In addition to meeting with phenomenal success, Cowboy Carter has reignited debates about the place of African-Americans in the history of country music, from which they have been largely ousted, the genre being rather associated with white and conservative musicians.

“Thank you Beyoncé for opening a door for us and starting the conversation, and for giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time.”wrote on Monday, September 9 on X the African-American singer Shaboozey, who collaborated with Beyoncé on her album. At the Country Music Awards, he is nominated in the categories “new artist” et “single of the year” pour A Bar Song (Tipsy) who had replaced Texas Hold’Em at the top of the charts.

American singer and rapper Post Malone, also featured on Queen B’s album, is nominated four times, a sign of recognition for his shift from hip-hop to country.

African-American pop and soul icon Dionne Warwick has judged “absolutely ridiculous” the absence of nomination for Cowboy Carter. Next step for Beyoncé, the announcement on November 8 of the nominations for the Grammy Awards, for which she holds the record for awards given to an artist, with 32 prizes. But where she has never won that of the best album.

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