“Were we hoping she’d be nominated? Absolutely,” ACM CEO Damon Whiteside told Billboard. “We love that Beyoncé is in the country genre.”
Whiteside added that Beyoncé has “an open invitation to be on the ACM stage anytime she ever wants to.”
Multiple tracks from Cowboy Carter received Grammy nominations, including “Texas Hold ‘Em,” “Levii’s Jeans” (featuring Post Malone), “16 Carriages,” and “II MOST WANTED” (featuring Miley Cyrus), which won Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
Some critics have credited Beyoncé’s lack of country music nominations due to her being less frequent in the genre, with most of her music being pop and R&B. However, a similar case can be made for Post Malone, who received multiple nominations at both the CMA Awards and ACM Awards for his country debut F-1 Trillion, despite starting his career as a rap artist before transitioning into pop.
Cowboy Carter has ignited a conversation about the history of country music and the racial dynamics within the genre. With most country stars being white, the contributions of Black country artists have often been overlooked.
Beyoncé’s album has helped raise awareness and shift the narrative. While the Grammys recognized this bold step, the ACM did not share the same sentiment.
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Source: Black Enterprise
