Dolly Parton Responds to Beyoncé’s CMA Snub, Praises Her Album ‘Cowboy Carter’
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Dolly Parton recently weighed in on Beyoncé’s absence from the nominations at this year’s Country Music Association (CMA) Awards. Speaking with Variety, the iconic country musician expressed her support for the CMA’s decision and shared her thoughts on Beyoncé’s omission from the awards.
“Well, you never know,” said Parton. “There are so many wonderful country artists, and I guess the country music field probably thought, ‘We can’t really leave out some of the ones who spend their whole life doing that.’” The 78-year-old admitted she hadn’t realized Beyoncé’s snub until she was asked about it.
Parton was quick to praise Beyoncé’s country-inspired album Cowboy Carter, calling it “a wonderful album” and noting that Beyoncé “can be very, very proud of” her work. She also reflected that the CMA likely did not intentionally overlook the superstar, remarking, “I don’t think it was a matter of shutting her out on purpose.”
The Jolene singer explained that the CMA likely focused on artists who consistently work in the country genre. “I think it was just more about what the country charts and the country artists were doing, those who do that all the time, not just a specialty album,” she said.
Parton also mentioned her connection to Beyoncé, recalling that her song “Jolene” was featured on one of Beyoncé’s albums. “I’ve been fortunate enough to be on both those albums… I thought that was a great album,” she added.
When asked about the possibility of collaborating with Beyoncé, Parton expressed openness to the idea, saying she was “open to anything.”
Dolly’s comments came shortly after Beyoncé’s father, Mathew Knowles, expressed disappointment over his daughter’s snub. Speaking with TMZ on September 9, Knowles suggested that the omission “speaks for itself” and attributed it to racial dynamics. “There’s more white people in America, and unfortunately, they don’t vote based on ability and achievements; it’s still sometimes a white and Black thing,” he said.
While the debate surrounding Beyoncé’s absence from the CMA Awards continues, Dolly Parton’s response was one of praise and admiration for the artist’s work, emphasizing that her album deserved recognition.
