Beyonce feels CMA snub is a 'slap in the face' after 'Cowboy Carter' receives zero nominations

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Beyonce is reportedly upset after her hit album 'Cowboy Carter' did not receive any nominations for the 58th CMA Awards from the Country Music Association.

Recently, an insider revealed to In Touch that it is not only the 43-year-old singer, who was left seething but the producers of the award show were also flustered by her album receiving zero nominations. 

The source further revealed that the CMA gave zero nominations to the ‘Cuff It’ singer to send a “message.”

Beyonce views the CMA snub as a slap on her face

The insider told In Touch that apart from Beyonce, the producers are also left bothered by the CMA snub as they fear Beyonce may choose not to perform at the CMA Awards, which will be broadcast live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on November 20.

The source, a CMA voting member, stated, “The Academy was sending out a message by thumbing their nose at Beyonce.”

“Just what exactly that message was is still unclear,” commented the member who claimed to have voted for the ‘Halo’ songstress. 

Despite the snub, Beyonce's country debut was far from lackluster, as it became the first album by a Black female artist to reach the top of the country charts.

While her track 'Texas Hold 'Em' peaked at number one on the Billboard Global 200, it was overlooked in favor of nominees like Kacey Musgraves, Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, and Jelly Roll.

Similarly, she was left out of the list of Best Female Vocalist nominations which included singers like Kacey Musgraves, Kelsea Ballerini, Ashley McBryde and Lainey Wilson.

A friend of the singer revealed that the 'Crazy in Love' artist is furious about not receiving any nominations. The friend noted, “Bey grew up on country music and has a great love for it,” before adding, “Not being recognized for her country album that did so well feels like a slap in the face.”

Racial politics and power dynamics behind Beyonce's CMA snub

While the CMA committee source didn't elaborate on the reasons for Beyonce's nomination snub, experts believe that racial politics may be a factor in her receiving zero nominations.

Rashad Robinson, president of Color of Change racial justice organization, told the outlet, “Recognizing Beyonce at the CMAs would force everyone to confront a multitude of truths: the roots of country music in Black music, the history of racism in country music and the prospect of having to give up not only their white audiences, but the part of their audience that can’t stand to see Black excellence succeed in this country.”

Robinson added, “It would also force them to confront the one enclave of culture they use as an escape from ever having to see Black people: their music.”

However, other sources suggest that power dynamics could also be a likely reason for the snub.

One source told the outlet, "Many people in the country music industry view her as an interloper."

“It’s like they feel Beyonce wanted to show the world she could conquer country music, and now it’s doubtful she will ever make another country music album — and they didn’t want to reward that,” explained the source.