Beyonc Is a Disruptor: Why the CMAs Snubbed Cowboy Carter

25/09/2024

Beyonc Is a Disruptor: Why the CMAs Snubbed Cowboy Carter Emmett G. Price III spoke to NBC News about the lack of nominations for the pop icons country crossover album.

By

Tara Bellucci

September 24, 2024

Image courtesy of Parkwood Entertainment

Beyonc may be one of the most iconic artists of her generation, but that doesnt mean shes always celebrated.

Earlier this month when the Country Music Association Award nominations were announced, Cowboy Carter was not among them. This is despite the project reaching No. 1 on Billboard's Top Country Albums chart, and the single, Texas Hold Em, hitting No. 1 on Hot Country Songs.

Emmett G. Price III, dean of Africana Studies, spoke to NBC News about the snub, calling her a disruptor and noting how he wasn't exactly surprised by the lack of nominations.

Cowboy Carter, he said, challenges not only the historical and cultural roots of country and Western but also how we normalize certain cultural aspects of country culture. And while other Black artists Shaboozey (who appears on two Cowboy Carter tracks) and the War and Treaty did receive nominations, they represent nominees in just three out of the 12 categories awarded for artists.

Beyonc is gonna be just fine, Price told NBC News. But what does it mean for the other perhaps Black and Brown or queer artists who have been marginalized, who have been pushed to the fringes because they don't look country, or they don't walk country, or they don't sound country?

There is speculation that Cowboy Carter came out of Beyonc 's experience at the CMA Awards in 2016, where she joined the Chicks onstage for a surprise performance and was booed. I did not feel welcomed . . . and it was very clear that I wasn't, she wrote in an Instagram caption in March.

This isn't Price's first commentary on Queen Bey; he recently analyzed the choice of Freedom as a campaign anthem after it was picked by the Harris camp. He also previously spoke about Cowboy Carter and Black people in country music to the Harvard Gazette and BBC.

What [Beyonc 's] trying to do is not only create effective art, but to leverage it to be a conversation starter so that we can heal our nation, he told the Gazette.

She's from Houston. She's a Texan. She understands country, both the music and the culture, both the attractive and non-attractive aspects of it. She also understands the influence that it has on people's lives and she's going right after that, trying to get us in conversation rather than hiding in the camps we're more comfortable in.

Related Categories

News

Most Popular

Jim Lucchese

Image by Kelly Davidson

Jim Lucchese Named Berklee's Fifth President A 20-year music industry veteran and a committed artist advocate with deep Berklee roots, Lucchese sets the tone for a new era at the institution.

Latest

Image courtesy of Christina, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

John Mayer Praises Alums Guitar Solo on SiriusXM The guitar greats cosign is a full-circle moment for Nashville-based session guitarist George Collins, whose playing is greatly influenced by Mayer.

The docuseries BPMI Live is now available on Berklees YouTube channel.

Image Courtesy of Bottle Tree Pictures

Berklee Popular Music Institute Launches BPMI Live Docuseries Bottle Tree Pictures filmed the course, highlighting how BPMI brings students through the process of selecting, preparing, and touring with Berklee acts at North America's largest music festivals.

Liam (left) and Noel Gallagher

Image has been modified. Original image courtesy of Shymanet (CC BY-NC 4.0)

Anyway, Heres Wonderwall (and 20 More of the Best Oasis Songs) The Gallagher brothers reunite for a sold-out UK tour in the latest example of the lucrative business of nostalgia. Plus: A dream set list.

Read All

Subscribe The latest sounds, stories, and ideas, sent to your inbox weekly.

LINK:	https://www.berklee.edu/berklee-now/news/beyonce-cowboy-carter-cmas-sn...
	See more stories from berklee

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

18/03/2026

Net Insight Names Larissa GrnerMeeus CPO

Newly named chief product officer (CPO), Larissa G rner Meeus will return to Net Insight on May 4. Larissa G rner Meeus will become CPO of Net Insight on May 4...

18/03/2026

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026: Select Sessions Now Available to Watch on SVG PLAY

SVG Europe's The Football Summit 2026 explored how the sports broadcasting i...

18/03/2026

SVG's SportsTech@NABShow Blog Goes Live as Countdown to Vegas Heats Up

The 2026 NAB Show kicks off one month from today and SVG is once again set to cover the show from every angle. SVG's SportsTech@NAB Show Blog is now live - ...

18/03/2026

The Premiere of Dead Lover Showcases Grave Robbing and Sex With a Giant Finger

(L-R) The cast and crew of Dead Lover at The Ray Theater for its premiere at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival. (Photo by Robin Marshall/Shutterstock for Sundan...

18/03/2026

Music Row Piano from Wiltone Productions

Yamaha C7 captured in Nashville Wiltone Productions have announced the release of Music Row Piano, a deeply sampled Yamaha C7 piano library that's been ...

18/03/2026

Techivation introduce T-Warmer Mk2

Bass-enhancement plug-in upgraded Along with a steady stream of new releases, Techivation have recently been revisiting some of the older plug-ins in their ...

18/03/2026

Tonal Balance Control 3 from iZotope

Mix-reference plug-in overhauled iZotope's powerful mix-referencing plug-in has just reached its third major version, and now boasts a new capture proce...

18/03/2026

Toontrack Transistor Organ EKX

Latest EZKeys 2 expansion arrives Toontrack's staggering collection of EZKeys 2 expansions has grown once again, and the latest instalment delivers a on...

18/03/2026

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture

Jess Ho explores the politics of food in new SBS Audio podcast For The Culture 18 March, 2026 Media releases New SBS Audio podcast For The Culture, hosted ...

18/03/2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz at NAB 2026

Future-ready broadcasts with ATSC 3.0 and enhanced services from Rohde & Schwarz...

18/03/2026

LCTWS 2026

London Calling - When The Industry Convened to Help Streaming Find its MoJo In this blog, Laura Rognoni reflects on key discussions from the Connected TV World...

18/03/2026

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations

SMPTE Unveils 2026 NAB Show Educational Presentations Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments SMPTE , the home of media professionals, technologists, a...

18/03/2026

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K

Auditel Ad Campaign Shot on Blackmagic PYXIS 12K Brie Clayton March 18, 2026 0 Comments LED wall virtual production blends 12K open gate acquisition w...

18/03/2026