Kelly Clarkson recently spoke out regarding the snubbing of Beyoncé at the 2024 CMA Awards, where Beyoncé’s debut country album, Cowboy Carter, received no nominations. Clarkson expressed her surprise, saying, “It’s fascinating because I feel like those songs were everywhere.” She highlighted the popularity of Beyoncé’s single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” which garnered massive attention on social media and soared to the top of both the Billboard Hot Country Songs and Hot 100 charts.
In her comments to NBC10 Boston, Clarkson shared her own experiences with the country music industry, reflecting on her attempts to break into the genre years ago. She recalled being advised during a lunch meeting that unless she fully committed to country music and abandoned her pop roots, she wouldn’t get radio play. “I was literally told that to my face, and I was like, ‘No offense, but that’s not going to happen,’” she recounted.
Clarkson also noted the competitive nature of country music and expressed her hope that it would be more inclusive, especially since both she and Beyoncé hail from Texas. “Growing up there, you can’t escape country music,” she said. “I thought it would be a more welcoming environment, but it really wasn’t.”
Despite Beyoncé’s lack of recognition from the CMA Awards, Clarkson emphasized that awards aren’t everything. “It’s not necessarily about the awards,” she said. “People are still showing up for them at concerts. You don’t need the award… you’re doing great regardless.”
For more insights from Clarkson, you can catch the full interview available in the video below.