Shaboozey has spoken out after the 2024 Country Music Awards, during which many say he was snubbed and his name served as a running joke among fellow artists.
Following a breakout year, Shaboozey was nominated for Best New Artist and Single of the Year at the 58th annual CMAs in Nashville on Wednesday (November 20). Shaboozey wasn't awarded either honor, losing to Megan Moroney for new artist and Chris Stapleton for single of the year.
Both losses surprised many viewers, considering that Shaboozey's single, "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," has held the number-one spot on the charts for 18 weeks, just shy of the 19-week record held by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus for "Old Town Road." Shaboozey also made history this year as the first Black man to top the Hot Country Songs chart and the Top 100.
Along with the snub, fans were outraged to see several speakers using Shaboozey's name as a joke during the CMAs.
Producer Trent Willmon appeared to use Shaboozey's name to joke about Cody Johnson "kicking booting" as he accepted the Album of the Year award for producing Johnson's Leather.
“I gotta tell ya,” Willmon said, “This is for this cowboy who has been kicking Shaboozey for a lot of years, y’all, Cody Johnson.”
Shaboozey's name again came up during a monologue by hosts Luke Bryan, Peyton Manning, and Lainey Wilson.
"Shaboozey will be performing ‘A Bar Song,’” Manning said. “The biggest hit of the decade, and No. 1 for 17 weeks.”
“And in Nashville, that’s what we call a Sha-doozy!” Bryan said.
“That is not what we call that,” Wilson quipped, with Manning adding, “Yeah, that does not sound right at all.”
“Shaboozey’s ‘A Bar Song’ was a big old hit,” Wilson continued. Bryan then chimed in: “His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Shaboozey, must be so proud.”
Many social media users said the jokes were done in poor taste. Several fans called out the CMAs for rewarding Shaboozey with "microaggressions" instead of awards.
Shaboozey responded to all the buzz in a social media post on Thursday (November 21).
“Ain’t nobody kicking me!” Shaboozey wrote.
“Couldn’t have ever in my wildest dreams imagined being here. I’m grateful for all of it. Win or lose, I’m blessed by something or someone that has a power beyond my understanding,” he added in follow-up posts. “I’m here today hopefully living in my purpose and if my music makes even the tiniest positive impact in someone’s life I can die with a smile. Country music changed my life and I’m forever grateful to it and for it.”
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