Luke Bryan On Beyoncé's 2024 CMA Snub: What He Really Meant

After Beyoncé was left off of the CMA Awards ballot completely despite her record-breaking album "Cowboy Carter," country music singer Luke Bryan had some choice words for Queen Bey.

The "Country Girl" singer recently expressed wanting the 43-year-old Destiny's Child alum to "get in the family" of country music in order to earn CMA Awards recognition, which sparked backlash amongst fans.

Now, Luke Bryan is setting the record straight and explaining what he meant when reacting to Beyoncé's CMA Awards snub.

Since the release of "Cowboy Carter" on March 29, Queen Bey has been breaking records and making history at every turn. Additionally, she has played a pivotal role in elevating Black country artists and highlighting the genre's roots.

However, despite her success, the Grammy-winning superstar found herself completely shut out of the nominations this year, missing the opportunity for Album of the Year for her groundbreaking project.

Fans were optimistic that this could have been a historic moment, as Beyoncé was set to become the first Black woman to take home that prestigious award.

Unfortunately, that dream will have to wait.

Last month, after the Country Music Association announced the nominees for the 58th Annual CMA Awards, and after Beyoncé was notably absent from the list, Luke Bryan, a two-time CMA Entertainer of the Year who will cohost this year’s ceremony, shared his thoughts on the situation.

"It's a tricky question because, obviously Beyoncé made a country album and Beyoncé has a lot of fans out there that have her back. And if she doesn't get something they want, man, they come at you," he told Andy Cohen at the time. "I'm all for everybody coming in and making country albums and all that. But just by declaring that, just because she made one. I don't need [a nomination], just 'cause I make one."

Luke Bryan continued to elaborate on the potential reasons behind the Country Music Association's decision to exclude "Cowboy Carter" from any nominations.

"Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album. Nobody's mad about it. But where things get a little tricky and, and you know — if you're gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit," he added. "Beyoncé can do it exactly what she wants to. She's probably the biggest star in music."

"But come to an award show and high-five us, and have fun and get in the family too," the country music singer continued. "And I'm not saying she didn't do that."

On Sunday, October 6, Luke Bryan took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, to address the backlash he has received ever since commenting on Beyoncé's snub.

"Hey y'all, I’m wrapping up the last night of my tour tonight and it’s been an amazing time. For that I am thankful," he began. "I am posting tonight based on the ridiculous nature of the headlines I have read the last couple of days from an interview on the 'Andy Cohen Show' I did this week when I was promoting my album."

"I feel in my heart I could not let media create a false narrative," he continued. "As I read thru the comments of some of you I just want to say that I encourage all of you to listen to the interview instead of reading clickbait headlines. You will hear my tone and intentions, which were not negative."

Bryan then made it clear that he "respects Beyoncé and I love how loyal her fans are." "I spend a lot of time supporting other artists. I want everyone to win," he continued. "Love y'all."

Dolly Parton does not think the award ceremony intentionally excluded Beyoncé from their nominations.

"I think everybody in country music welcomed her and thought that was good. So I don't think it was a matter of shutting out, like doing that on purpose," Parton told Variety. "I think it was just more of what the country charts and the country artists were doing, that do that all the time, not just a specialty album."

With her extensive career in country music spanning decades, the "9 to 5" singer seemingly has a deep understanding of how the nomination process works.