Kelly Clarkson doesn't understand why Beyoncé was snubbed at the 2024 CMA Awards, but it's something she can relate to.
In a recent interview with NBC10 ItalyGrammy-winning singer reacts to Beyoncé's words Carter the cowboy album did not receive any nominations at the 58th Annual CMA Awards, and he has spoken openly about his personal challenges in the country genre.
“I find it kind of fascinating,” he said of the snub the “Texas Hold ’Em” artist received, “because I feel like those songs were everywhere.”
Carter the cowboy not only did it reach #1 on the Billboard 200 chart, but also the Top Country Albums chart. Beyoncé also had several songs from the album reach the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, including “Texas Hold 'Em” which reached #1.
Clarkson added that the country genre is a “difficult” field to break into, even when she tried several years ago with “Don't Rush,” featuring Vince Gill, “Tie It Up” and “Don't You Wanna Stay,” her duet with Jason Aldean.
“It's a tough industry, even for me,” she explained. “I was told at a lunch that if I didn't leave pop music and start country music, no one would play me. They literally said that to my face at a lunch, and I was like, 'OK, no offense, but I'm never going to pick just one.'”
The “Stronger (What Doesn't Kill You)” singer said her experience and the rejection she's felt in the genre have been difficult to deal with, given that she “grew up on country music,” being from Texas. “I guess Beyoncé did, too. We're both Texans, so you can't help it growing up there,” she added.
“It felt like the door was closed unless I was completely in and had to abandon every other genre, which I don't think people like me, or even Beyoncé, are capable of doing. It's not even a desire or a need, it's just that we like to dabble,” Clarkson said. “Why limit yourself?”
The Kelly Clarkson Show The host has ultimately embraced her career path and found joy in her successes along the way. “At the end of the day, I've always learned in this industry that it's not necessarily about awards, and it's not necessarily about any of that, really. People show up, right? You're huge,” she said, referencing Beyoncé.
“People show up to my concerts, they like to listen to my country music, they like to listen to my pop, they like to listen to all the different things,” she continued. “I'm sure she likes it, too. I think the real victory is that you don't even need the award.”
The nominations for the 2024 CMA Awards were announced earlier this week, with Morgan Wallen leading the way with seven nominations, followed by Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson, who each received five nods, and Post Malone and Lainey Wilson, who each received four.