Whoopi Goldberg has recently addressed the lack of nominations for Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter at the 2024 CMA Awards, making a rare public comment on the matter. The 68-year-old actress and television host expressed her thoughts on the snub during a discussion on The View.
“A lot of people are surprised — I don’t know why — that it didn’t receive a single CMA Award nomination. Well, this is the question: Are you surprised?” Goldberg asked, suggesting that the outcome wasn’t as unexpected as some might think, told People.
Goldberg went on to clarify her stance, saying, “I don’t think she was snubbed; I think they just didn’t… it wasn’t for them.” Her remarks highlight a view that the lack of recognition may not reflect a personal slight against Beyoncé but rather a misalignment with the CMA’s preferences.
Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, which dropped on March 29, achieved significant success, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and making history as the first Black woman to top the Hot Country Albums chart. Despite these accomplishments, the album failed to garner any CMA Award nominations, leading to disappointment among fans and some industry insiders.
Another The View panelist, Sunny Hostin, also voiced her frustration over Beyoncé’s exclusion from the nominations. Hostin expressed her dismay, particularly noting Dolly Parton’s contribution to the album. “I happen to love Dolly Parton, so I felt that when the Queen of Country sort of passed the baton a little bit for ‘Jolene,’ which was an incredible song on her album, and ‘Texas Hold ‘Em,’ two incredible country songs, I thought she would at least get nominated for those two,” said Hostin.
Despite her disappointment, Hostin reflected on her mother’s advice, saying, “My mother always told me, ‘Find the audience that’s looking for you.’ This audience isn’t looking for her.”
Goldberg had previously addressed similar issues regarding award snubs earlier in the year. After Margot Robbie and Greta Gerwig were overlooked for Oscar nominations for Barbie, Goldberg commented on the subjectivity of awards. “There are no snubs. That’s what you have to keep in mind: Not everybody gets a prize, and it is subjective. Movies are subjective,” Goldberg said at the time. She added, “The movies you love may not be loved by the people who are voting.”
Goldberg’s latest comments continue her ongoing discussion about the nature of awards and recognition in the entertainment industry.