K. Michelle Slams A Country Music Reporter Who Insisted She Was New To The Genre: 'I Grew [Up] Here'

Singer, songwriter, and reality TV star K. Michelle recently slammed a reporter during an interview who implied she was new to the country music genre at the 2025 CMA Fest.

In an American Songwriter video shared on the CMAs official social channels, a reporter interviewed a handful of singers about their country music experience, and during a chat with K. Michelle, who made waves in 2024 by signing to a major independent country music label, the outspoken personality masterfully set the record straight about her connection to the genre by referring to her roots in the South.

In the clip, which quickly went viral on social media, Michelle, who gained significant fame after 2009 for her time on VH1's "Love & Hip-Hop," pointedly set the record straight after the reporter suggested she "didn't grow up" country.

"I did grow up in country music," the singer told the reporter. "I'm from Memphis, Tennessee. I got a scholarship for yodeling; that's how I paid for college."

As Michelle continued, she explained that her first recorded demo was a version of The Judds' "Love Can Build a Bridge," which, according to her, the Judd family had asked her to perform as a tribute to the late Naomi Judd, who passed away in 2022.

Despite these deep roots, Michelle told the reporter that she still faced significant pushback as a Black woman while trying to find her footing in the country music genre.

"It's always been a thing for me," she said. "It was something I had always been doing, and will continue to do."

She added, "I didn't fly here; I grew here."

During her interview, Michelle mentioned that she was glad her new music, such as the country song "Tennessee," is introducing her to new listeners.

She also touched on the fact that contemporary country music isn't playing many women in general, saying, "You don't hear a lot of women on contemporary [country] radio. And you really don't hear a Black one."

"But you're about to," she added.

The 43-year-old, who was signed to BBR Music Group/BMG Nashville in 2024, revealed that her debut country album is in the final stages of production and called the songs "amazing."

"I am so happy to be able to sing the songs of who I am and what it is I want to," she noted, adding that the head of her music label told her she has the "most country album in Nashville right now."

On social media, many online users defended the musician against the interviewer's line of questioning, with one saying Michelle "cursed her out without curse words."

Someone else shared a similar sentiment, writing, "My girl has grown cause she would've turned this whole interview out."

A third fan also chimed in and wondered why "white people feel like they are the gatekeepers to country music?"

"Baby, WE CREATED IT! And y'all stole it just like you do everything else," they continued.

A fourth user added a bit of credence to Michelle's earlier statements, writing, "Her Day 1 fans knew this. She's always talked about yodeling to pay for college. Interviewer should've done her research."

The pushback Michelle received from some in the country music world echoes a familiar story for other artists who have crossed over from different genres.

In 2024, after announcing her eighth studio album, "Cowboy Carter," which houses the No. 1 country single "Texas Hold' Em," Beyoncé was met with a similar reaction.

Not only did fans question her place in country music, despite growing up in Houston, Texas, but singers such as Luke Bryan also had something to say about it.

While speaking with Andy Cohen about Beyoncé's apparent snub by the CMA Awards, the 48-year-old called the situation "tricky."

"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," Bryan said.

"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."