Before the CMA Awards on Wednesday, Billy Ray Cyrus shared his thoughts on the controversy surrounding Beyoncé’s exclusion from the nominations list.
The country star took to Instagram earlier in the day to congratulate all the nominees, but also expressed his “shock” that the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer wasn’t nominated this year.
He wrote in his post, “I’m so happy and proud to see country music opening their doors and format to be inclusive to all people, all styles. @lilnasx and I won this award in 2019 for Event Of The Year… but you wouldn’t have seen it because they didn’t air it in the show.”
Cyrus continued, “I was surprised to see @beyonce wasn’t nominated??? Her album was brilliant…her single ruled. But she knows that. She doesn’t need a trophy from the CMA…or permission…or approval from any of their judges.” He also quoted Muhammad Ali, saying, “When ya knock em out…. Ya don’t need no judge.”
The “Achy Breaky Heart” singer is not the only country artist to comment on Beyoncé’s lack of CMA nominations, despite her country album Cowboy Carter reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200. Several songs from the album, including “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which hit No. 1, also made it to the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 chart.
In September, Kelly Clarkson expressed confusion over the snub, saying, “I feel like those songs were everywhere.”
Luke Bryan also recently clarified his previous comments on the nominations controversy. He stated, “You will hear my tone and intentions which were not negative. I respect Beyoncé and I love how loyal her fans are. I spend a lot of time supporting other artists. I want everyone to win.”
This followed remarks he made earlier about Beyoncé’s CMA snub: “Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album. Nobody’s mad about it. But where things get a little tricky — if you’re gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit. Like, Beyoncé can do exactly what she wants. 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. And I’m not saying she didn’t do that…but country music is a lot about family.”
Bryan is co-hosting the 58th annual CMA Awards in Nashville on Wednesday alongside Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson.
