The Future of Country Music: Why Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter Matters

An empty mic at the CMAs, askin’ who’s bein’ left out of country music this year.

Alright y'all

Gather 'round because I got somethin' to say about what’s been goin’ on in the world of Country Music. Seems like folks are all up in arms about Beyoncé gettin’ snubbed by the CMA this year even though her Country album Cowboy Carter was a real game changer for the genre. Let me tell ya, Texas Hold 'Em her lead single was one of the biggest chart-topping singles on the Billboard charts—heck it even hit No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. Still she didn’t get a single nod for Album of the Year or any of the Country Music Awards. Now I don’t know about y’all but that’s got me scratchin’ my head.

Folks are wonderin’ "Why wasn’t Beyoncé nominated at the 2024 CMA Awards?" Well turns out the CMA voting process might still be favorin' the good ol' boys and girls club. Some folks in the industry just don’t see her as part of the country music genre even though she’s a Texas girl through and through and she’s been pourin' her heart into this country album. Seems like the Country Music Awards have a long way to go when it comes to recognizin' black artists.

Now if you’re thinkin’ "Is Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter a country album?" Well I’d say it sure is. I mean it’s a tribute to the roots of country music includin' the contributions of black artists—folks who’ve been overlooked in this genre for far too long. She said herself that Cowboy Carter was inspired by the way she was treated at the 2016 Country Music Awards when she performed Daddy Lessons with The Chicks. That whole situation left a mark on her, leadin' her to dig deep into the history of country and out came Cowboy Carter.

Now here’s where things get real interestin'. While Beyoncé didn’t get any love from the CMA, Morgan Wallen—yeah the same fella who was suspended by his label for a spell and removed from some radio stations for usin' a racial slur—walked away with the most nominations. He’s got his album nominations and more. Wallen apologized for the slur and eventually got back with his label and here he is center stage again. You might be wonderin’ "WIll Morgan Wallen win a CMA award after his controversy?" Well he’s up for a few, so it’s possible.

Meanwhile, Shaboozey who worked with Beyoncé on Cowboy Carter is makin’ history of his own. He became the first black male artist to top both the country charts and the Billboard Hot 100 at the same time with his track A Bar Song (Tipsy). And here’s somethin’ that really got folks talkin’—that song replaced Beyoncé’s Texas Hold 'Em at the top of the Billboard charts. Talk about makin' waves.

So while Beyoncé might’ve been snubbed this time, she’s still dominatin' conversations around the Country Music Awards. You gotta ask yourself; Why was Beyoncé snubbed at the Country Music Awards? Could it be the CMA just ain’t ready to fully embrace a black woman steppin' into their territory? Seems like there’s still a lot of work to be done in terms of inclusion in country music.

It’s worth notin’ that Cowboy Carter is more than just a country album—it’s part of a trilogy where she’s diggin' into the roots of American music shinin' a light on the role black artists have played. Her performance at the 2016 CMAs might’ve stirred up some controversy but it lit a fire under her to claim her space in this genre.

As for the Country Music Awards themselves it’s the usual suspects up for the big prizes. Folks like Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Jelly Roll and of course Morgan Wallen. So who are the top nominees at the 2024 CMA Awards? You got your heavy hitters like those names but it’s the absence of someone like Beyoncé that’s got everyone talkin’. And believe me that conversation ain’t goin’ away anytime soon.

At the end of the day it’s about more than just one album or one artist—it’s about where the future of country music is headin’. Maybe Beyoncé didn’t get the album nominations she deserved but she sure got the world thinkin' about who belongs in this genre. And that my friends is a win in itself.

So even if the CMA didn’t see her this time around, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter is standin' tall. It’s pushin’ boundaries and challengin' what we think of when we talk about country music. And that’s what country’s all about right? Takin' risks tellin' the truth and layin’ it all out there for the world to hear. I reckon Beyoncé’s already won in that department.

Thanks for readin'!

--Tucker Gentry