Billy Ray Cyrus
Amy Sussman/WireImageBilly Ray Cyrus frustrated by the CMA Awards’ snub BeyoncéA “good” country album.
Cyrus, 63, defended the “Texas Hold ‘Em” icon via Instagram on Wednesday, November 20, just hours before this year’s CMA Awards ceremony kicked off at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee.
“Congratulations to ALL the @cma nominees!,” she began her post. “I’m very happy and proud to see country music open its doors and format to include all people, all styles.”
Then he marked Lil Nas Xco-winner of the 2019 CMA Award for their song “Old Town Road,” and wrote that “you wouldn’t have seen [the musicians receive the award] because they didn’t play it on the show. I’m surprised to see @beyonce not nominated??? His album was brilliant… his dominated. But you know that. He doesn’t need a trophy from the CMA… or approval…. or approved by any of their judges.”
Cyrus concluded his brief with a quote Muhammad Ali. “When you take them out …. You don’t need a judge,” he wrote.
Beyoncé, 43, released her eighth album, Cowboy Carterearlier this year. It pays tribute to his Texas roots and the unprecedented contributions of black musicians to country music. Beyoncé hired Cyrus’ daughter, Miley Cyrusduet on the song “II Most Wanted,” a heartbreaking ode to friendship that went viral Thelma & Louise.
During the 2024 CMA Awards nominations announced in SeptemberBeyoncé was noticeably absent from every category. He kept quiet about his stories, although his fandom did not. Members of the Beyhive expressed their disappointment on social media.
“Beyonce should host a live show on all platforms at the same time as the CMAs. Or release album videos the minute the CMAs start,” one X user wrote at the time.
Forward Cowboy CarterReleased in March, Beyoncé talked about her foray into country music.
“Today, 10 days are counted until Law II is issued. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to all the supporters of ‘Texas Hold ‘Em’ and ’16 Carriages,’” he wrote on Instagram, referring to the album’s first two songs. “I’m honored to be the first black woman to top the Hot Country Songs chart.”
Meanwhile, Beyoncé broke a record earlier this month when she became the most-nominated artist in Grammy Awards history, with 11 nominations this year — including Best Country Album and Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “II Most Wanted.”
