Luke Bryan has entered the chat about Beyoncé’s CMA snub.
The country superstar — who will return to co-host the CMA Awards on Nov. 20 with NFL legend Peyton Manning and 2023 Entertainer of the Year Lainey Wilson — gave his thoughts about Beyoncé being shut out of nominations for her history-making “Cowboy Carter” album in an interview on SiriusXM’s “Andy Cohen Live” radio show on Tuesday.
“It’s a tricky question,” said the two-time CMA Awards entertainer of the year winner . “Obviously Beyoncé made a country album. And Beyoncé has a lot of fans out there that have her back, and if she doesn’t get something they want, man, they come at you … as fans should do.”
Led by its No. 1 hit “Texas Hold ’Em,” “Cowboy Carter” saw Beyoncé become the first black woman to top both the country albums and singles charts. The LP featured legends of the genre, including Dolly Parton and Willie Nelson, and showcased African-American country artists such as Grand Ole Opry pioneer Linda Martell and “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” breakout Shaboozey.
But Bryan said, “It’s a tough thing to say” about exactly why Bey received zero CMA nominations for her groundbreaking achievement.
“I mean, listen, I’m all for everybody coming in and making country albums and all that. But just by declaring that, just because she made one…” he said, trailing off.
Bryan added that “a lot of great music’s overlooked,” noting that it comes down to what the Country Music Association’s voting body thinks is worthy. “Sometimes you don’t get nominated.”
But the “American Idol” judge — whose new album, “Mind of a Country Boy,” dropped on Sept. 27 — insists that there isn’t any bias against Beyoncé going country.
“Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album. Nobody’s mad about it,” said Bryan. “But where things get a little tricky … you know, if you’re gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit.”
Bryan admitted that it might have helped for the Grammy golden girl — with a record 32 wins — to spend more time in the country community.
“Beyoncé can do exactly what she wants to. She’s probably the biggest star in music,” he said. “But come to an awards show and high-five us and have fun and get in the family too … Country music’s a lot about family.”
Bryan isn’t the only country star to give their take on the CMAs ignoring Bey.
Parton — whose classic “Jolene” is covered by Beyoncé on “Cowboy Carter” — told Variety, “So I don’t think it was a matter of shutting out, like doing that on purpose.”
In defense of the CMAs, Parton said, “There’s so many wonderful country artists that, I guess probably the country music field, they probably thought, well, we can’t really leave out some of the ones that spend their whole life doing that … not just a specialty album.”
Shaboozey — who received CMA nominations for single of the year and new artist of the year — showed love for Beyoncé after snub last month.
“Thank you @Beyonce for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!” he wrote on X.
Leading the nominees is country sensation Morgan Wallen with seven nods, followed by his fellow entertainer of the year contender Chris Stapleton and “Dirt Cheap” singer Cody Johnson with five apiece.
Tied with four nominations each are Wilson and Post Malone, who, after riding with Beyoncé on the “Cowboy Carter” track “Levii’s Jeans,” partnered with Wallen on “I Had Some Help.”