Country music icon Billy Ray Cyrus has jumped to Beyoncé’s defense after the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards overlooked her groundbreaking contributions to the genre.
Despite her immense success and artistic strides into country music, the CMAs left Queen Bey out of their nominations, a move Billy Ray finds surprising.
Speaking on the matter, Billy Ray praised Beyoncé’s efforts, calling her country album Cowboy Carter “brilliant” and hailing her standout single Texas Hold ’Em as a track that “ruled.” He voiced his shock at the CMA judges’ decision but reminded everyone that Beyoncé’s legacy transcends any awards recognition.
“She doesn’t need their validation,” Billy Ray remarked, pointing to her staggering 11 Grammy nominations this year, including nods for her country work. For the “Achy Breaky Heart” singer, Beyoncé’s decades of global success are proof enough of her talent, and no trophy or panel can define her worth.
Billy Ray took to Instagram to drive home his message with a powerful quote from boxing legend Muhammad Ali: “When ya knock ’em out, ya don’t need no judge.”
As Beyoncé continues to garner acclaim in other arenas, including the Grammys, fans and fellow artists alike are left wondering how the CMA Awards could overlook such an undeniable force.
