Beyoncé wasn't there, but the superstar behind the rejected "Cowboy Carter" country album was on many thoughts at the CMA Awards.
Though she missed this year's CMA Awards, Beyoncé wasn't forgotten.
The superstar's country album "Cowboy Carter" wasn't nominated for this year's CMAs, but her friends and partners on the red carpet mentioned her again.
"It's awesome, she threw me the alley-oop and I went up there and tried to windmill that thang," Shaboozey told PEOPLE Magazine how Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter feature launched his career, using a basketball analogy.
After singing on the star's "Spaghettii" and "Sweet Honey Buckin'," his "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" earned the Billboard Hot 100's longest-running No. 1.
In a word, he said this year has been "never-ending. I love it. It feels like it's been like 10 years but it's only been a couple months. We dropped our song half way through the year and it's still going."
Regarding his genre-blending country style, "I feel like I'm just being myself," he said, per GEO TV. "I don't really think about it like, 'This is going to change the game.' I just make the music that's true to me and authentic to my experiences. They say country music is three chords and the truth and I love speaking the truth over three chords, or more."
Another pair of candidates, husband and wife combo The War and Treaty, shared their opinions on Shaboozey's triumph and Beyoncé's lack of recognition.
"I think it's very important that we acknowledge the CMAs doing representation," said Michael Trotter, Jr. "I think it's very important to acknowledge the hard work of someone who is outside of the Nashville system but to come here and do what he did and have the biggest single of the year, it's very important."
"We're all standing on his shoulders, and to include the great and talented and phenomenal Beyoncé with Cowboy Carter, so tonight can feel like a retribution for a lot of different people," he added.
Tiera Kennedy, featured on "Cowboy Carter," told PEOPLE she loves and respects Beyoncé, and Home Free sang an acapella rendition of her hit down the carpet, "Texas Hold 'Em," calling it "a song that should have been nominated."
Beyoncé's greatest fan, mom Tina, posted Home Free's impromptu performance on Instagram with the caption "At the CMA's Keeping it 100!" With a caption, she said, "Wow!!!!!! They sound great!!!!!"
For "Cowboy Carter" fans, Beyoncé will headline the Dallas Cowboys Christmas Day home game halftime show.
Fans expressed their opinions on Twitter on Beyoncé's omission from the CMA nominations. “Cowboy Carter changed the game. How did Beyoncé not get nominated? Total disrespect," one netizen stated. “Shaboozey is proof that Beyoncé opens doors for others. She deserves all the praise!" another X user shared.
“Home Free singing ‘Texas Hold ’Em’ gave me chills. Beyoncé’s country era was magical," a fan claimed. “Tina Lawson hyping Beyoncé at the CMAs—iconic! They can’t ignore Cowboy Carter forever," a third netizen said.
“The CMAs missed a huge opportunity. Beyoncé brought something new to country music!" an X user added. “Can’t wait for the Dallas Cowboys halftime show. Beyoncé is the queen of every genre," another netizen retorted.
Business Times has reached out to Beyonce for comments.
