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Dolly Parton is pleading with the Beyhive not to attend the CMAs. The 78-year-old expressed her opinions about the genre-bending album's exclusion from the 2024 CMA Awards nominations. Beyoncé covered the 78-year-old's hit song Jolene on her successful Cowboy Carter album.
Well, you never know, Parton remarked to Variety in a Sept. 17 interview. There are so many amazing country musicians that the industry probably felt we really can't leave out some of the ones that dedicate their entire lives to that, the statement reads.
Parton praised Beyonce, saying Cowboy Carter was a wonderful album" and that she should be extremely proud of herself. I think everybody in country music welcomed her and thought that that was good, Parton said. Therefore, I don't believe that was a deliberate act of shutting out. It wasn't just a specialty album, in my opinion; it was more of what the country charts and country musicians were doing consistently.
Talking about Beyoncé and Post Malone's entries into the country music scene, Parton expressed her gratitude for being a part of both albums and stated she was open to anything about future projects.
Regarding Queen Bey's credentials in the country music industry, Parton stated that the Grammy winner's experience is indisputable.
She grew up with that base; she's a country girl from Texas and Louisiana," Parton remarked. She didn't appear out of nowhere, exactly. I had the privilege of performing a duet with Post Malone on his album, which I believe is an incredible record. He has always had a deep love for country music. Those two albums, in my opinion, were excellent.
Her exclusion from the CMAs was particularly poignant because the chart-topper's inspiration for Cowboy Carter—which fans have speculated to be the backlash from her 2016 performance at the CMA Awards—came from a moment of exclusion she experienced.
She said on Instagram in March, It was born out of an experience that I had years ago where I did not feel welcome, and it was very clear that I wasn't. However, as a result of that encounter, I researched our extensive musical arcountrynd dug deeper into the history of country music.