For context, Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter — which was released in March 2024 after five years in the works — was inspired by her not feeling “welcomed” into the country music space.

Years before Cowboy Carter dropped, Beyoncé — who is from Houston, Texas — faced unfair criticism from some country music fans after she performed her 2016 country song “Daddy Lessons” with The Chicks at the Country Music Association Awards.

Later in 2016, Beyoncé was snubbed by the Grammy Awards’ Country Music Committee, per AP News.

With all this in mind, several fans were disheartened to see Beyoncé snubbed of award nominations for her country music yet again — especially given how successful Cowboy Carter was.