Beyoncé and CMA Awards Controversy: Real Reason Why “Queen B” Did Not Attend CMA Awards This Year 

Beyoncé wasn’t at the 2024 CMA Awards. And many are wondering why the superstar—who dropped Cowboy Carter, one of the most talked-about country albums of the year—didn’t receive any recognition from the Country Music Association (CMA) this year.

After all, her album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, topped the country charts, and even earned Beyoncé her first Grammy nomination in country music. Yet, when the CMA nominations were announced, Cowboy Carter wasn’t even considered.

No nominations, no seat at the table, and no Beyoncé at the show. This snub has sparked a major conversation in Nashville and beyond. It’s the kind of album that crossed genres, broke records, and featured collaborations with country legends, yet the CMAs completely overlooked it. Let’s explore why.

Why Was Beyoncé Absent from This Year’s CMA Awards?

Let’s start with the obvious question: Why didn’t Beyoncé show up for the 2024 CMA Awards, especially when she’s been nominated for 11 Grammys this year? She’s been recognized in the country music category at the Grammys, but when it comes to the CMAs? Nothing. The answer is simple—the pop star was snubbed from the awards.

The problem seems to be that country music is a bit of an exclusive club, and some say Beyoncé didn’t exactly play by the rules. Luke Bryan, a country superstar and CMA co-host, spoke out on the issue, saying that while everyone loved Queen B’s move into country music, there’s more to it than just making a country album. In an interview with Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM, Bryan said:

Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album. Nobody’s mad about it. But where things get a little tricky and you know — if you’re gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit. Beyoncé can do exactly what she wants to. She’s probably the biggest star in music. But come to an award show and high-five us, and have fun and get in the family, too.

Long story short, according to him, if the artist is going to create a country album, they need to be involved in the country music community. Bryan explained that it’s not about Beyoncé being famous—everyone knows she’s a star—but about being part of the Nashville scene.

The Reason Why Beyoncé Failed to Land a Spot on the CMA Awards Final Ballot

Now, here’s where things get extra complicated. Beyoncé didn’t even make it to the final ballot for the CMAs. This means that not only did she not get nominated, but she didn’t even make it to the top tier of the voting process.

And that’s surprising, especially when you consider how much Cowboy Carter achieved in the country music world. When the CMAs announced their nominations, Cowboy Carter was already a massive success.

The album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200, which is a huge deal for any artist, let alone a pop artist stepping into country music. The singer also became the first Black woman to top the Top Country Albums chart, which was historic.

But none of that seemed to matter when it came to the CMA nominations. Her album didn’t even make it onto the final ballot, despite her album getting so much attention in the country world.

Some people might wonder if Beyoncé’s own words about the album played a part in this. In her Instagram post, she made it clear that Cowboy Carter was her interpretation of country music, but she also said that “this ain’t a country album.” For some voters, that might have been a dealbreaker.

If the artist herself doesn’t consider it a “country album,” why would they nominate it for country awards? At the end of the day, country music has a long history of being slow to embrace outside influences. While she made a country album, she hasn’t really shown up in Nashville in the same way other country artists have.

For example, she didn’t perform at big country events like the Grand Ole Opry or spend time with the Nashville community (per The Washington Post). 

Even Post Malone, who released a country album this year, managed to get four CMA nominations, while Beyoncé was left out in the cold. It’s not just about talent—it’s about tradition, community, and how the artist fits into the country music world. And for Sasha Fierce, it seems like she just didn’t fit.

Beyoncé’s Relationship with the CMA Awards

If you think this is the first time Beyoncé has had a rocky relationship with the CMAs, think again. In fact, her history with the country music world is a little more tense than you might expect.

One of the biggest moments that raised eyebrows was her performance with The Chicks (formerly known as the Dixie Chicks) at the 2016 CMA Awards. That performance of Daddy Lessons was a country-influenced track from her Lemonade album, and it didn’t go over too well with the audience.

In fact, the Halo star and The Chicks were actually booed during the show. That backlash seemed to be part of the reason why the 43-year-old chose to dive deeper into country music for Cowboy Carter.

In the same Instagram post, Beyoncé shared that the album was inspired by a past experience where she didn’t feel “welcomed” in the country space. She didn’t go into too much detail, but many fans believe she was referencing the 2016 CMA performance. 

Instead of backing down, the songstress took that negative experience and turned it into something beautiful, creating an album that celebrates the country genre while staying true to herself. In an interview with Variety, even Dolly Parton, who appeared on Cowboy Carter, defended Beyoncé, saying:

I don’t think it was a matter of shutting out, like doing that on purpose. I think it was just more of what the country charts and the country artists were doing, that do that all the time, not just a specialty album.

Others have argued that country music needs to change and be more open to artists who are making their own mark as Beyoncé did. But for now, it’s clear that her relationship with the CMA Awards is far from friendly.