Mathew Knowles, the father of music superstar Beyoncé, has publicly expressed his frustration over the recent Country Music Awards (CMA) snub of his daughter’s album, Cowboy Carter. Despite the album’s success, neither Beyoncé nor Cowboy Carter received nominations for the 2024 awards, a decision Knowles believes is racially motivated.
In an interview with TMZ, Knowles voiced his dismay, saying he wasn’t surprised by the snub. He noted that Beyoncé’s venture into country music has not always been well-received, referencing her controversial 2016 performance with the Dixie Chicks. “
There’s more white people in America, and unfortunately, they don’t vote based on ability and achievements,” Knowles stated. “It’s still sometimes a white and black thing.”Released in March 2024, Cowboy Carter made history, topping the Billboard 200 for two weeks and spending a month at No. 1 on the Top Country Albums chart. Its lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” held the No. 1 spot on the Hot Country Songs chart for ten weeks, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to reach that milestone.
Knowles emphasized that the CMA voters’ decision to overlook his daughter’s achievements in the genre speaks volumes about the ongoing racial divide in the country music industry. “It still comes down to white and black,” he added, acknowledging the challenges artists of color face when breaking into traditionally white-dominated spaces like country music.
A Missed Opportunity for Recognition