Is it just me or does the subheadline read like the New York Times is trying to justify Beyoncé’s CMA snub?
Plenty of artists didn’t get CMA nominations this year, but you don’t see the NYT writing articles about them, do you? The fact that they felt the need to address Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter CMA snub says it all. Deep down, they know she deserved to be nominated.
It’s almost like they’re trying to justify the CMA snub because even they know that it’s not adding up. Let’s call it what it is—Beyoncé made an impact that couldn’t be ignored, and now the excuses are rolling in.
Cowboy Carter was a genre-blending masterpiece that brought something fresh to the table. Sure, it might not have fit neatly into their country box, but that’s the whole point. Beyoncé joined others in taking a genre that’s been gatekept for years and making it their own. Streaming and downloads drove the success of “Texas Hold ’Em”—because her fans show up for her, period.
The lack of nominations has nothing to do with radio play and everything to do with the industry not being ready to embrace change. Black country artists don’t need their validation–I know they want it, but they really don’t need it. Too many of us still don’t feel like we’ve done it until they say we’ve done it. Foolishness.
I loved every second of Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter album—the perfect mix of country soul and that signature Bey magic. She joined other Black artists in taking a genre that doesn’t always embrace artists like them and completely redefined it. The storytelling, the vocals, the vibes—Cowboy Carter is a whole mood. My fav song on the album is Bodyguard.
Award nominations and awards aren’t everything. Don’t get me wrong, recognition is nice, but Beyonce and other Black artists don’t need a trophy to prove their impact. The real wins are in how they’re pushing boundaries and redefining what’s possible in music, period.
So while the CMA’s may not have given her the credit she deserved, we know what’s up. Cowboy Carter is iconic, and no award can take that away–or them deposits.
Beyoncé doesn’t need the CMA’s stamp of approval—we see the impact.
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Beyoncé doesn’t need the CMA’s stamp of approval—we see the impact
