The pop superstar recalled veering into the country genre herself and getting told her music wouldn’t be played on radio unless she “quit pop” entirely
Kelly Clarkson can relate to Beyoncé getting snubbed by the 2024 CMA Awards.
After Queen Bey’s Cowboy Carter album didn’t receive any nominations at the 58th Annual CMA Awards, Clarkson reacted to the snub and recalled veering into the country genre herself, just to be told her music wouldn’t be played on radio unless she “quit pop” entirely.
“I kind of find it fascinating,” the Grammy winner told NBC10 Boston of Beyoncé’s lack of nominations, “because I feel like those songs were everywhere.”
Clarkson isn’t wrong — Cowboy Carter reached No. 1 on the Billboard 200 albums chart, while its lead single “Texas Hold ‘Em” hit the top slot on the Billboard Hot 100. Beyoncé, 43, notched additional top-10 hits from the album with “II Most Wanted” featuring Miley Cyrus and her cover of Dolly Parton’s “Jolene,” while many other tracks placed on the charts as well.
“It’s hard. I did even try years ago,” said Clarkson, recalling her own forays into country with the singles “Don’t Rush” with Vince Gill and “Tie It Up,” which followed the success of her 2010 “Don’t You Wanna Stay” duet with Jason Aldean.
“That’s a hard industry, even for me,” she added. “I was told at a lunch if I didn’t quit pop music and just go country, I would not be played. I was literally told that to my face at a lunch, and I was like, ‘OK, no offense, but I’m not ever gonna just pick one.’”
Clarkson explained the experience was difficult because she “grew up on country music,” telling the outlet, “I imagine Beyoncé did too. We’re both Texans, so you can’t escape it growing up there.”
Looking back, she said, “It just seemed like the door was closed unless I was all-in and had to leave every other genre behind, which I don’t think people like me, or even Beyoncé, are capable of doing that. It’s not even a desire or a want, it’s just like, we love dabbling. Why limit yourself?”
With time, however, Clarkson has come to terms with her career trajectory. “At the end of the day, I’ve always kind of learned in this industry, it’s not necessarily about the awards, and it’s not necessarily about any of that, really. People are showing up, right? You’re massive,” she said, nodding to Beyoncé.
“People are showing up to my concerts, they like hearing the country stuff from me, they like hearing the pop, they like hearing all the different things,” added the “Miss Independent” musician. “I’m sure they do with her as well. I think the real win there is that you don’t even need the award.”
Nominations for the 58th Annual CMA Awards were unveiled on Sept. 6, and Morgan Wallen led the pack with seven total nods, followed by Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson, who both earned five nominations, plus Post Malone and Lainey Wilson, who nabbed four each.
