Luke Bryan tells it like it's about Beyoncé's CMAs snub

Veteran CMA Awards host Luke Bryan reflects on why Beyoncé is like that Cowboy Carter The album missed the show's nomination list this year.

Buzz swirled around the pop superstar, whose first official country project came out in March after she was delisted. Some, including Beyoncé's father and former manager, believed race was a factor in the snub.

During an appearance on SiriusXM Andy Cohen LiveBryan says he believes Beyoncé might have received nominations if she had spent more time engaging with the country music community.

“Everyone loved that Beyoncé did a country album. Nobody’s mad about it,” he says.

“But that’s where it gets a little trickier and if you want to make country albums, come into our world and be a little country with us,” Bryan continues. “…Beyoncé can do exactly what she wants. She is probably the biggest star in music. But come to an awards show and give us a high five. And have fun and be part of the family too.”

“And I’m not saying she didn’t do that,” he states.

Read more: Why was Beyoncé excluded from the CMA Awards?

As she prepared to be released Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé recalled an instance where she “felt unwelcome” in the genre. She was likely referring to the 2016 CMA Awards, where she performed with the Chicks and received mixed reviews.

Afterwards, an unnamed manager claimed to have done this billboard that he saw Alan Jackson leave his front row seat in protest at Beyoncé's performance, and while the evidence that it actually happened is pretty thin, the anecdote quickly became a widespread part of awards show lore .

Cowboy Carter came in a year in which Post Malone also made his foray into country music, F-1 trillion. Post undeniably plunged headfirst into the world of country music during his recording process, teaming up with Brad Paisley, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Dolly Parton, Luke Combs, Lainey Wilson and more of the genre's hottest A-listers for his album.

Beyoncé took a different tactic, although her album includes features from Parton and another country music legend, Willie Nelson. She shined a spotlight on up-and-coming black country artists, including Shaboozey, Tiera Kennedy, Willie Jones and more. She also honored the history of black artists in the genre with a feature that highlighted Linda Martell, the first black female solo artist to play on the Grand Ole Opry.

Bryan will host the 2024 CMA Awards alongside Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson. The show will air on ABC on November 20th.