Luke Bryan has shared his thoughts on why Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album hasn’t resonated with country music critics, particularly regarding award show nominations. In an appearance on Andy Cohen Live on SiriusXM, the 48-year-old country singer-songwriter addressed the lack of nominations for Beyoncé at the Country Music Association Awards, despite her popularity and previous recognition.
Bryan explained, “It’s a tricky question because, obviously, Beyoncé made a country album and she has a lot of fans out there that have her back. And if she doesn’t get something they want, man, they come at you, as fans should do.” He acknowledged the passion of Beyoncé’s fanbase while noting that many deserving artists often go overlooked during the selection process.
The Leesburg, Georgia native, who is a father of two sons, Bo, 16, and Tate, 14, expressed his support for artists crossing into country music, stating, “I’m all for everybody coming in and making country albums.” However, he emphasized that simply venturing into a new genre doesn’t guarantee critical acclaim.
Luke Bryan, 48, has offered a measured take on why Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter hasn’t resonated with country music critics, after it did not receiving a single nomination from the Country Music Association Awards. Pictured Monday in NYC
Beyoncé, 43, did not receiving a single nomination from the Country Music Association Awards. Pictured at the iHeartRadio Music Awards at Dolby Theatre in LA on April 1
‘Just because she made one … just ’cause I make one, I don’t get any nominations,’ Bryan said.
Luke Bryan has suggested that Beyoncé might not have engaged enough with the country music community during her foray into the genre. He remarked, “Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album—nobody’s mad about it—but where things get a little tricky is if you’re gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit.”
Bryan acknowledged Beyoncé as “probably the biggest star in music” who can do exactly what she wants, but added, “Come to an award show and high-five us and have fun and get in the family too.” He emphasized that while he’s not implying she didn’t do that, country music is heavily rooted in a sense of community and family.
Beyoncé’s past interactions with the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards have been controversial, particularly following her 2016 collaboration with The Chicks on the track “Daddy Lessons,” which received a significant amount of racist backlash online. Reflecting on her experiences, Beyoncé shared in a March 19 Instagram post that her 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.”
She added, ‘But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive.
Bryan spoke about the issue appearing on Andy Cohen Live on SiriusXM Monday
Bryan suggested Beyoncé might not have networked enough in her foray into the new genre
Beyoncé, pictured earlier this year in LA, released Cowboy Carter on March 29
‘It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.’
Beyoncé’s father Mathew Knowles told TMZ on September 9 that the CMAs snubbing of his daughter’s record, released March 29, ‘speaks for itself.’
He added: ‘There’s more white people in America and unfortunately they don’t vote based on ability and achievements; it’s still sometimes a white and Black thing.’
Knowles noted that amid the ‘current state of American culture … there’s no accountability for people not being accepting of other cultures.’
Bryan spoke out about Beyoncé’s foray into country days before news broke that she has submit her album Cowboy Carter to the Grammy Awards in the country category, sources told The Hollywood Reporter Wednesday.
The Texas Hold ‘Em singer had previously submit her 2016 track Daddy Lessons from her hit album Lemonade for contention in country categories, but it was not nominated.
Beyoncé, who has won 32 Grammy Awards over 88 career nominations, has never received a country nomination. She showed her crossover appeal in 2017, when Lemonade was nominated for honors in four genres – rock, rap, R&B and pop.
The Recording Academy utilizes the services of around ‘350 volunteer music industry experts’ to lend their opinions on how content should be classified, THR reported, with complications coming at times when material is reflective of multiple genres.
Beyoncé’s history with the CMAs prior to the nominations being announced to controversy earlier this month included a 2016 collaboration with The Chicks of the track Daddy Lessons, which garnered a number of racist reactions online
Last year, industry experts faced a dilemma over how to classify Beyoncé’s album Renaissance, ultimately placing it in the dance category, where it triumphed. As the upcoming awards season approaches, reactions to Beyoncé’s submission for Cowboy Carter have been polarized among fans.
Supporters are enthusiastic, with one user declaring, “Queen Bey takes Nashville! Beyoncé for the country win!” Another predicted, “Beyoncé will be the winner, mark my words.” One fan emphasized the importance of genre fluidity, stating, “Kinda need her to win this one off principle. Genre is about bending. Yes, it’s country… but it’s also a testament to the long line of inspiration that country has enveloped.”
Conversely, some fans expressed skepticism. One user predicted, “They’re going to snub her 100%. This will be Beyoncé’s least Grammy award-winning project if it wins any at all.” Critics of the album’s classification included one who said Cowboy Carter was “not a country album – it’s just cosplaying as one.” Another user added, “Jay-Z buying them awards as usual,” suggesting that financial influence might overshadow genuine recognition in the country music scene.
As the debate continues, the anticipation surrounding Beyoncé’s potential recognition in the country genre remains a hot topic.
