Billy Ray Cyrus Criticizes CMA Awards for Beyoncé Snub

The country singer expressed surprise over Beyoncé's lack of CMA nominations despite the success of her album 'Cowboy Carter.'

Beyoncé's album 'Cowboy Carter' made history as the first by a Black woman to top Billboard’s Country Albums chart and earned 11 Grammy nominations, including in country categories.
Despite its critical and commercial success, the album received no nominations at the 2024 CMA Awards, sparking discussions about the inclusivity of the country music industry.
Billy Ray Cyrus publicly supported Beyoncé, calling her album 'brilliant' and stating that she doesn’t need validation from the CMA Awards.
Artists like Dolly Parton and Luke Bryan weighed in, with Parton praising the album but suggesting awards may prioritize lifelong dedication to the genre, while Bryan emphasized country music's sense of community.
The snub reignited debates about diversity and recognition in country music, with fans and critics pointing to the genre's history of slow progress in embracing minority artists.