Country Artist Tiera Kennedy Says Beyoncé Didn’t Make ‘Cowboy Carter’ For A CMA Award Amid Snub

There’s been much backlash to the Country Music Awards announcing the 2024 nominees, and leaving Beyoncé out in the cold.

Amongst the commentary, Tiera Kennedy — who collaborated with Bey on the Cowboy Carter track “BLACKBIIRD” — addressed the CMA’s decision not to nominate it, saying that she believes “change is slow” and feels Bey’s intention wasn’t to get a CMA award.

“When I saw the nominations I smiled because I saw that Shaboozey was nominated for not one but two awards and I know that he’s been working for a long time,” she began. “I think a lot of people expected me to talk down on the CMA’s but thats not how I walk through life. I think a lot of people saw the nominations and didn’t see Beyoncé’s presence and felt like Country music missed the point and that nothing has changed. But as someone on the Cowboy Carter album, I can tell you that, that’s not entirely true. Change is slow.”

Speaking to how Beyoncé opened doors for her, she emotionally continued, “I can’t speak for Beyoncé, but I don’t think she made this album to get a CMA nomination. I think she made this album to share the history and open the door for Black country artists just like me, and it worked. She has given me the opportunity of a lifetime. When other people told me ‘no’ she told me ‘yes.’”

In the words of Beyoncé, Cowboy Carter, “ain’t a Country album. This is a ‘Beyoncé’ album.”

On Monday (Sept. 9), the CMA’s completely disregarded Bey in all categories, including Entertainer of The Year and Album Of The Year.

Since the release of Bey’s eighth No.1 studio album, the LP has earned Bey the historic accolade of first Black woman in history to debut atop the Top Country Albums chart since 1964. The 43-year-old also became the first woman to top both the Hot Country Songs and Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Charts simultaneously with “Texas Hold ‘Em.”

“This album has been over five years in the making. It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed… and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” Bey wrote about the album’s concept at the time of its release. “But, because of that experience, I did a deeper dive into the history of Country music and studied our rich musical archive. It feels good to see how music can unite so many people around the world, while also amplifying the voices of some of the people who have dedicated so much of their lives educating on our musical history.”