Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, has raised concerns about racist voting influencing his daughter’s absence from the list of nominees for the 2024 CMA Awards. Knowles, who guided Beyoncé’s career from her time in Destiny’s Child to her solo endeavors, expressed to TMZ that the exclusion reflects a deep-rooted history of racism within the country music industry. He believes that this year’s voting process highlights a persistent divide between white and Black artists.
According to Knowles, the voting patterns in America do not always prioritize talent and accomplishments, with a tendency to favor white artists over Black artists. Despite Beyoncé’s eligibility for the CMA Awards in 2024 due to the release of her country album “Cowboy Carter” in March, featuring the chart-topping single “Texas Hold ‘Em,” she was overlooked for nominations in categories such as Album of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, or Single of the Year.
Knowles acknowledged that Beyoncé’s exclusion was not unexpected given the current cultural climate in America. He highlighted her previous experiences with the CMAs, particularly her performance in 2016 with the Chicks, which received mixed reactions from fans. Beyoncé had previously expressed feeling unwelcome in the country music genre, alluding to her 2016 performance.
Despite her history with the CMAs, Knowles revealed that Beyoncé did not have a positive experience at the 2016 awards show and never received an apology from the organization. He also emphasized the African roots of the banjo, a key instrument in country music, which is featured prominently in Beyoncé’s “Texas Hold ‘Em,” performed by Rhiannon Giddens.
Knowles, known for founding Music World Entertainment, which focused on various music genres including gospel, pop, hip-hop, R&B, and children’s music, acquired the country music catalog Compadre in 2016. The 2024 CMA Awards are scheduled to be broadcast on ABC on Nov. 20.
2023 CMA Awards Red Carpet Pictures
The 2023 CMA Awards were broadcast live on ABC from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Nov. 8, with Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning hosting for the second consecutive year. Nominees for Entertainer of the Year included Luke Combs, Carrie Underwood, Chris Stapleton, Lainey Wilson, and Morgan Wallen.
Gallery Credit: Billy Dukes
FAQs
Q: Why was Beyoncé excluded from the 2024 CMA Awards nominees list?
A: Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, believes that racist voting played a role in her exclusion from the nominations, citing a history of racism in the country music industry.
Q: What categories could Beyoncé have been nominated for at the 2024 CMA Awards?
A: Beyoncé’s album “Cowboy Carter” could have been considered for categories such as Album of the Year, Musical Event of the Year, or Single of the Year.
Q: Did Beyoncé have a positive experience at the CMAs in 2016?
A: According to Mathew Knowles, Beyoncé did not have a good experience at the CMAs in 2016 and never received an apology from the organization.
Credit: popcrush.com
