Matthew Knowles Attributes Daughter’s CMA Snub to Racial Bias
In a candid interview, Beyoncé’s father, Matthew Knowles, expressed his belief that racial bias played a significant role in his daughter’s exclusion from nominations at the Country Music Awards (CMAs). Speaking to TMZ, Knowles highlighted the racial disparities that he feels influence voting at such prestigious award ceremonies.
“There’s more white people in America and unfortunately they don’t vote based on ability and achievements, it’s still sometimes a white and black thing,” Knowles remarked. He also recounted Beyoncé’s less-than-pleasant experience performing with the Dixie Chicks at the 2016 CMA Awards. According to him, her inclusion “didn’t go over so well,” and added that “the CMAs never apologized to Bey.”
Historic feat overlooked
Knowles pointed out the historic success of Beyoncé’s country project, Cowboy Carter, which topped the country chart and spent an impressive 22 weeks on the Billboard Top 200 album ranking. This achievement marked a significant milestone, as it was the first time a Black woman singing country music reached such heights.
Despite this, the CMAs failed to acknowledge Cowboy Carter with any nominations, even though other pop crossover artists like Post Malone and Shaboozey received recognition. Knowles was quick to clarify that he doesn’t believe CMA voters are inherently racist, but he feels the snub “speaks for itself.”
Controversial 2016 CMA performance
The issue of race in country music is not new. In 2016, the CMAs faced backlash from some country music fans for allowing Beyoncé to perform “Daddy Lessons” with The Chicks at the awards ceremony. While the live audience showed support, the online community had mixed reactions, questioning Beyoncé’s place in the country music genre.
Beyoncé took to Instagram to share how the 2016 CMAs experience inspired her. “Cowboy Carter took more than five years to make and was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcomed…and it was very clear that I wasn’t,” she stated. This statement underscores her commitment to breaking barriers and continuing her journey in country music, despite the challenges she faces.
As the conversation around racial bias in award shows continues, Matthew Knowles’ comments add another layer to the ongoing debate on inclusivity and fairness in the music industry.