Kelly Clarkson Surprised by Beyoncé’s CMA Awards Snub, Relates to Genre Struggles

Kelly Clarkson has expressed her surprise and disappointment over Beyoncé’s 2024 CMA Awards snub, relating it to her own struggles breaking into the country music scene. In a recent interview with NBC10 Boston, Clarkson discussed Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter being overlooked, despite its commercial success.

“I kind of find it fascinating,” Clarkson shared, adding, “because I feel like those songs were everywhere.” She highlighted the album’s achievements, which included reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and Top Country Album charts, as well as producing several Top 10 hits on the Billboard Hot 100.

Clarkson, who has also faced challenges in country music, said the genre is a tough industry to break into—even for established artists. “I was told at a lunch if I didn’t quit pop music and just go country, I would not be played,” she revealed. “I was literally told that to my face.”

Both Clarkson and Beyoncé, who grew up in Texas, share roots in country music, but Clarkson noted how difficult it was to break through without leaving other genres behind. “We’re both Texans, so you can’t escape it growing up there,” she said. “It just seemed like the door was closed unless I was all-in.”

For Clarkson, the key message is that artists shouldn’t be confined to one genre. “Why limit yourself?” she asked. “The real win is that people are showing up… they like hearing the country stuff, the pop stuff—why pick one lane?”

The Kelly Clarkson Show host emphasized that, like Beyoncé, the success of their music is proof enough of their versatility, regardless of award recognition.

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