Luke Bryan is responding to the headlines surrounding his Beyoncé comments.
Last week, the “One Margarita” singer commented on the backlash the CMA Awards received when Beyoncé was not nominated for her “country” album Cowboy Carter. While Bey claimed it was not a country album, fans were still up in arms that his highly successful album did not receive a single nomination.
With fans up in arms, some artists have spoken out, including Dolly Parton, with the perspective that the CMA Awards were reserving nominations for those artists who make a living solely through the genre.
“There’s so many wonderful country artists that, I guess probably the country music field, they probably thought, well, we can’t really leave out some of the ones that spend their whole life doing that.”
Luke Bryan also recently spoke on the matter. The CMA Awards co-host appeared on SiriusXM’s Andy Cohen Live, where the radio talk-show host asked Bryan his thoughts on the lack of nominations. And his answer had some people up in arms when he suggested that Beyoncé has not done enough to make friends and engrain herself into country music.
“A lot of great music’s overlooked. Sometimes you don’t get nominated sometimes. Like I said, I mean, I think the CMA, they have their voting body. And they, they vote what they think should make it.
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.
Like, don’t, like 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. And I’m not saying she didn’t do that.”
However, after the news of Bryan’s comments started circulating the internet, Bryan did not like how it was landing.
Last night, after he came off stage in Des Moines, Iowa, he took to social media to slam the “ridiculous” headlines.
“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.
I am posting tonight based on the ridiculous nature of the headlines I have read the last couple 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. 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 click bait headlines.
You will hear my tone and intentions, which were not negative. I respect Beyoncé, and I love how loyal her fans are. I spend a lot of time supporting other artists. I want everyone to win. Love y’all.”
Hey yall, I’m wrapping up the last night of my tour tonight and it’s been an amazing time. For that I am thankful.
I am posting tonight based on the ridiculous nature of the headlines I have read the last couple days from an interview on the Andy Cohen show I did this week when…
— Luke Bryan (@lukebryan) October 7, 2024
While I never thought the comments were hostile toward the “Texas Hold ‘Em” singer, I thought they were honest regarding the nature of her crossover compared to other artists doing the same. Of course, this angle is interesting, given the timing of Post Malone’s crossover into the country, where it appears he will stay for the foreseeable future. Post slowly made his crossover into the genre, befriending many artists and songwriters and constantly performing with those with deep roots in the industry, all while attending award shows and influential industry events.
Malone and Bey had wild success with their albums, but one was received much better within country music than the other, and I believe a significant factor in that is the friendships Malone created before releasing his record. How Malone made his crossover is entirely different than how Beyoncé did it.
Regardless, Bryan sets the record straight, saying he respects Bey, her fans, and her music.
Luke Bryan will co-host the 2024 CMA Awards on November 20th with Peyton Manning and Lainey Wilson.
