Bryan recently expressed wanting Beyoncé to “get in the family” of country music after her ‘Cowboy Carter’ album didn’t receive any CMA Award nods.
Luke Bryan has made it clear he meant no offense when discussing why Beyoncé was overlooked for nominations at the 2024 CMA Awards.
The well-known singer, 48, expressed in a conversation his desire for Beyoncé, 43, to join the “country music family,” which would help her attain recognition at the CMA Awards. This topic came up during an Oct. 1 interview with SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live. Following some buzz generated by his comments, Bryan took to X (formerly Twitter) to provide further insight on Oct. 6.
“Hey y’all, wrapping up my tour’s final night has been extraordinary. I’m thankful,” Bryan shared after the Sirius XM interview. He felt compelled to address misconceptions that arose from his words.
Bryan spoke about how a “false narrative” was forming, urging fans to revisit the interview for its full context. He was keen to emphasize that his intentions were not negative. “I respect Beyoncé and wholeheartedly admire her enthusiastic fanbase,” he shared. “My aim is to support other artists. I want success for all. Much love, y’all.”
The CMA Awards’ lineup for its 58th annual event was announced last month, and Beyoncé, who achieved a historic milestone as the first Black woman to lead the Billboard Top Country Albums chart this year with Cowboy Carter, was absent from the list of nominations.
Co-hosting this year’s CMA Awards alongside Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson, and having won two previous Entertainer of the Year awards, Bryan shared his perspective on Beyoncé not being nominated.
“This is a complex matter,” Bryan noted. “While Beyoncé has legions of loyal fans, making one country album doesn’t necessitate CMA nods. I welcome all artists into the realm of country music for a full embrace.”
Bryan discussed potential reasons why Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter might not have made the cut for nominations.
“The album was embraced, and that’s undeniable. It’s about immersing oneself in the country milieu,” Bryan elaborated. “Beyoncé is a gigantic icon. She’s free to choose her path, but attending award shows and mingling would be great. It’s all about being part of the family, and my intention was never to imply otherwise.”
Other celebrities weighed in on Beyonce’s CMA Awards oversight. Dolly Parton hailed Cowboy Carter as “fantastic,” proposing that the awards might prefer to spotlight artists longer established in the country scene.
Kelly Clarkson remarked on the exclusion, noting the significance and presence of those tracks in the music world, and shared her own encounter with the inherent challenges of the country music industry.
