Say it ain’t so. After Beyonce’s smash country-themed record Cowboy Carter got snubbed by the 2024 CMAs, beloved country star Luke Bryan jumped on social media and called her out. The reaction was instant chaos.
Heavy.com reported the crazy chain of events on October 9th. The real truth is that Luke’s newest scandal began on October 2nd when he appeared on SiriusXV Andy Cohen Live, and Andy wanted Luke’s opinion on Queen Bey’s “CMA Snub.”
Luke gave his side of the story alright, beginning with the suggestion that Beyonce should have “come into our world and be country with us a little bit.” He thought it was wise to spell it out more.
Luke admitted that Beyonce “can do exactly what she wants to” since “she’s probably the biggest star in music.” Then, Luke threw a “but” in there.
After he mentioned what a big star Beyonce is, Luke said, “But come to an award show and high-five us, and have fun and get in the family too.” Did Luke actually absorb what he was saying?
When he finished, he seemed to back off a bit by telling Andy, “I’m not saying she didn’t do that.” The problem was the fallout had already begun.
Luke Called Out the “False Narrative”
Heavy wrote that Luke got into a social media war with the haters late on Sunday evening, October 6th, after he “wrapped up his latest tour.”
He posted on X, starting with a “Hey, y’all,” and expressing how “thankful” he was on the last night of his tour for what an “amazing time” he had. Then, Luke got into the “ridiculous.”
He blasted the “ridiculous nature of the headlines” he was getting over his conversation with Andy. Luke wrote, “I feel, in my heart, I could not let media create a false narrative.” Shockingly, Luke even blamed the “clickbait” sites.
Luke asked fans and critics to “listen to the [actual] interview” with Andy “instead of reading clickbait headlines.” He thinks people will understand his “tone and intentions… were not negative.”
We believe Luke was telling the truth when he wrote, “I respect Beyonce, and I love how loyal her fans are.” Luke claimed he spends “a lot of time supporting other artists” and wants “everyone to win.”
Luke’s Post Fueled the Online Discourse
His post got over 100,000 views, and the replies were intense. One person told Luke to “shut up” and claimed, “We listened to the interview and read the interview.”
They thought that Luke should have “pushed the conversation to a more positive and less racial place.” Shockingly, they said Luke “promoted the same talking points as other racist people in country” music, and they weren’t finished.
This person admitted that Luke should “stand in what you believe,” but he shouldn’t “start begging because people have an opinion on the ‘BS’ you said.” They wrote, “Country is not [Luke’s] world,” and that “he’s just a small part of it, and that’s ok.”
It was a passionate opinion, and we hope Luke’s mindset isn’t that narrow. If there’s any proof that Luke wasn’t trying to be racially motivated, you need to hear the insane shade that another person threw at him.
This commenter complained that Luke needs to “get right, son.” Unbelievably, they wrote, “If you’re with Beyonce and her fans, ya ain’t for us.” He claimed that hashtag ‘American Citizens’ will figure that out.”
It’s crazy that this person told Luke to “pick a lane” and “do the right thing.” The only thing they wrote that made sense was their plea for the online community to donate to victims of hurricanes Milton and Helene. Sometimes, the people with the craziest opinions get everyone else to come together and tell the genuine truth.
One person replied, “Pick a lane, brother??” And, “If you are with Beyonce and her fans, ya ain’t for us??”
They clapped back, writing, “What kind of crap is that??” “We are all ‘American Citizens!’”
This person believes what we think, adding, “Thank goodness Luke is not like you!” They signed off with, “Live and let live” and “Peace out!!”
Another person wisely schooled everyone by reminding us that “Country ain’t white, and white ain’t American.” They added, “You’re confused, and Luke don’t have to do Jack.”
We love how they finished this with, “Country is American, not White. Get it? Good.” It wasn’t just good. It was an excellent point.
Beyonce Has Faced Challenges in the Country Music Genre
Heavy mentioned how shade-throwing subreddit groups fired up with debates about Luke. One user remembered what happened to Beyonce years ago when she attempted to join the “country family.” If this doesn’t sound familiar, here’s what happened.
Beyonce performed with the Chicks (formerly the Dixie Chicks) at the 2016 CMAs. The Chicks raved about it.
Viewers were equally impressed, but the real truth is that Beyonce got hit with some “boos from the audience” that night. Old-time country legends like Alan Jackson got up and walked out because they thought the performance insulted Country Western traditionalists.
Following this year’s CMA nominations, Rolling Stone commented on what happened at the 2016 CMAs and connected the dots. Beyonce described the sad experience in an Instagram post from this past March, explaining how it “motivated her to create her own country-inspired album,” as Heavy.com put it.
Variety added to the conversation with their report on Luke’s reaction to Beyonce’s snub. The outlet clarified that Andy was probably grilling Luke on the subject because Luke is “a co-host of the 2024 CMA Awards.”
Before revealing more shocking details of Luke’s conversation with Andy, Variety noted that Cowboy Carter was a history-making success on the Billboard charts. Still, only one of Beyonce’s singles, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” managed to crack the “country airplay chart” at “No. 33.”
Luke Defended His Statement
You won’t believe this, but Luke thinks the situation is “tricky.” When Andy grilled him about Beyonce’s snub, Luke said, “It’s a tricky question because, obviously, [she’s] made a country album.” After that, Luke brought up the “fans.”
Luke knows that the BeyHive has “her back.” He discussed Beyonce’s fanbase “[coming] at you, as fans should do.” Andy agreed that the fans have “power,” and Luke claimed that makes it “tough.”
What was really tough to hear was Luke’s ignorance of Cowboy Carter‘s sheer strength in numbers. He said he didn’t know how many albums she actually sold. Luke really put his boot in his mouth when he claimed, “You know, I know she had one song.”
Luke did insist that Beyonce wasn’t a shoo-in for CMA nominations “just because she made” a country-themed album. He claimed to have an excuse.
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Luke told Andy, “Just ‘cause I make a country album,” he might not “get any nominations.” He also said that the CMAs “have their own voting body” and “vote what they think should make it.”
Luke got personal after that. He told Andy that “Country music [is] a lot about family,” and, shockingly, Luke claimed, “We get pissed at each other, too.”
Subreddit users who listened to Luke’s interview with Andy and read his late-night, post-tour tweet thought his “goalpost moving [was] hilarious.” Luke might want to reconsider his idea of the country music family because, as the Redditor explained, “Willie Nelson, Dolly Parton, and Linda Martell” are country legends who all graced Beyonce’s album with their musical presence. The user also praised Beyonce for spotlighting “up-and-coming Black country artists” on Cowboy Carter.
Luke’s Position Hasn’t Always Been Consistent
It is crazy that Luke is getting so much heat for calling out Beyonce now. He was singing a far different tune this past April.
WKML 95.7 reported on an on-air interview with Luke, and back in April, he claimed that “having Beyonce in country music is a great thing.”
While he didn’t name “Texas Hold ‘Em” directly, Luke called Beyonce’s single “amazing.” He said he applauded her for getting “a lot of headlines right now.”
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Luke also dropped a hint about “working together.” He told WKML, “The quicker we all intersect and intermingle and work together, the better.”
Luke mentioned Post Malone’s hit collaboration with Morgan Wallen. He said, “When you see artists from all other genres, I think that’s how society listens to their music these days.”
Luke brought up his “nephew’s playlist.” He meant 22-year-old Tilden Cheshire, who lives with Luke and his family.
Luke claimed you can’t “stereotype” who Til is “by his playlist.” He admitted, “I don’t even know all the rappers” his nephew listens to alongside old-time Conway Twitty and current superstars like Luke Combs.
