Civil rights group Color of Change decries CMAs’ refusal to weigh in on Beyoncé

Racial justice group Color of Change is calling out the Country Music Association for snubbing Beyoncé at its 2024 awards show.

Despite a number 1 hit album and single on both the country and pop charts – with Carter the cowboy and “Texas Hold ‘Em” — the Grammy-winning star was completely shut out of the awards show honoring the best in country music.

“Beyoncé is bigger than the CMAs. She doesn’t need the CMAs. But when the CMAs make such a clear statement that they don’t need Beyoncé, they send a clear message that they align themselves with the forces that are desperate to cling to a mythical American past that never existed,” said Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change. The Hollywood Reporter.

“Recognizing Beyoncé at the CMAs would force everyone to confront a multitude of truths: the roots of country music in black music, the history of racism in country music, and the prospect of having to abandon not only their white audience but the segment of their audience that can’t stand to see black excellence succeed in this country. It would also force them to confront the one cultural enclave they use as an escape from ever having to see black people: their music,” he continued.

Founded in 2005, Color of Change has 7 million members. The nonprofit is committed to protecting Black culture and progress, holding business and political leaders accountable, and commissioning research on systems of inequality.

Beyonce Carter the cowboy made history this year by spending four weeks at the summit BillboardTop Country Albums Chart — making her the first black woman to achieve the feat. She also became the first black woman to reach No. 1 on the chart BillboardHot Country Songs with “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which held the number one spot for 10 weeks. His single and album also topped the charts BillboardThe Hot 100 and 200 albums charts across all genres, while seven others Carter the cowboy The tracks reached the Top 10 of the Billboard The 27-track project, featuring Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Linda Martell and Miley Cyrus, sparked cultural conversations about Black artists reclaiming the genres they pioneered, including country music.

Despite her total exclusion, Beyoncé qualified for CMA categories such as Single of the Year, Song of the Year, Album of the Year, Female Vocalist of the Year, and Musical Event of the Year. She even qualified for Entertainer of the Year, although that award is typically reserved for country artists who have built a strong presence in the genre over the years.

Post Malone — who also released his first country album this year and appears on Carter the cowboy — was greeted with four nominations, including bids for single and song of the year for “I Had Some Help.” The No. 1 pop and country hit features Morgan Wallen, who leads the CMA Awards with seven nominations. Beyoncé collaborator Shaboozey — who received a major boost in the music scene after appearing on two Carter the cowboy tracks — earned his first CMA nominations: new artist of the year and single of the year with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” the biggest hit of the year.

He posted a message of support to Beyoncé after the CMA announcement: “Thank you @Beyoncé for opening a door, starting a conversation and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!”

The CMAs rejection comes eight years after controversy erupted at the 2016 CMAs, when Beyoncé surprised the audience by performing her country-tinged song “Daddy Lessons” alongside the Chicks. While some applauded the performance, the country music community reacted negatively, with some even calling for a boycott, while Queen Bey’s performance was removed from the CMAs website. The singer appeared to be referencing the CMAs when she teased Carter the cowboy In March: “This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience I had years ago where I didn’t feel welcome…and it was very clear that I wasn’t. But through that experience, I dove deeper into the history of country music and studied our rich musical archives.”