Shaboozey is keeping his cool after a comment from Cody Johnson’s producer, Trent Willmon, stirred up some tension at the CMA Awards.
During the ceremony, which was held at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, Cody Johnson won the Album of the Year award.
It was a monumental moment for the Texas native affectionately known by fans as CoJo, who’s been steadily building a reputation for recording incredible music and delivering high-energy concerts.
However, as he and his producer, Trent Willmon, took the stage to accept the award, Willmon told the audience,
“It takes an army of people to make a great record, but I gotta tell ya, this is for this cowboy who’s been kicking Shaboozey for a lot of years, y’all.”
The remark didn’t sit well with country music fans online, who were already enraged over Shaboozey losing in both the Best New Artist and Single of the Year categories.
Despite the massive success of “A Bar Song) Tipsy),” the 29-year-old walked away empty-handed, leaving fans questioning the awards’ decisions.
CMAs have a race issue. The #CMAAwards are racist. Watch the racism unfold from last night CMAs. Shaboozey deserves better & he released the biggest country song of the year 18 weeks at number one on Billboard hot 100 charts. How do you let someone get away with being this… pic.twitter.com/lu8uUaAgxC
— T̷h̷e̷ ̷M̷i̷s̷t̷r̷e̷s̷s̷ ̷O̷f̷ ̷C̷h̷a̷o̷s̷ (@M3GAN_E_KNOWLES) November 21, 2024
and
Why did Cody Johnson’s writer throw a diss at Shaboozey for literally no reason at all?
— Peyton Hacker (@_peytonhacker) November 21, 2024
and
Yeah wtf was that. Didn’t need to be said.
— Lydia Mae (@LydiaKlingbeil) November 21, 2024
and
Oh I need the clarifying articles ASAP cause what the actual????
— Taylor Nicole ???????? (@TayGang15) November 21, 2024
and
what’d that guy say about shaboozey lmaooo cody johnson looked uncomfortable
— cam (@gatorstroll) November 21, 2024
and
the only thing i can think was cody johnson’s producer was trying to make a joke about kicking “booty” and replaced it with shaboozey as a horrible pun that no one found funny lol
— cam (@gatorstroll) November 21, 2024
But while everyone was outraged for him, Shaboozey, whose real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze, seemed unbothered.
The “Start A Riot” singer shared a photo of himself sitting in a sprinter van wearing an all-black outfit with rings on both hands and a chain around his neck.
“Ain’t nobody kicking me!” he captioned the pic on X.
Ain’t nobody kicking me! pic.twitter.com/KLiMpBazBk
— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) November 21, 2024
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has dominated the Billboard Hot 100 for 18 weeks and, according to the news outlet, is just one week shy of tying the record for the longest No. 1 run, a spot currently held by Lil Nas X and Billy Ray Cyrus’ “Old Town Road.”
He is also up for five Grammy Awards in 2025, including multiple nominations for Ä Bar Song (Tipsy) in the Best Country Song, Best Country Solo Performance, and Song of the Year categories.
Shaboozey is also up for the Grammy for Best New Artist, while the song “Spaghetti,” his collaboration with Beyoncé and Linda Martell on the pop superstar’s “Cowboy Carter,” is up for Best Melodic Rap Performance.
You mean to tell me that a young black man like Shaboozey who dropped the biggest country single of the decade didn’t win any awards at the Country Music Awards?
Shocking! I’m shocked! pic.twitter.com/92srohp4sW
— Sisa (@TheTitanBaddie) November 21, 2024
and
The CMAs nominated Shaboozey, not Beyoncé, to appear less racially exclusionary and preempt backlash. He was never gonna win, it’s always been performative.
— Bassie ???? (@BassieLastrassi) November 21, 2024
and
lol Shaboozey not winning any award he was nominated for at the CMAs despite having the #1 country song in the country for months is wild.
them white folks made it loud and clear how much they don’t want black artists in country even though the genre is ours.
— ❄️ (@Rae_Von) November 21, 2024
and
Shaboozey lost every CMA award he was nominated for. They played in his face, but I’m not surprised. This is why Beyoncé didn’t pay them any mind after they mistreated her, too.
— ???????????????????? (@MJFINESSELOVER) November 21, 2024
and
Shaboozey not winning a CMA is legitimately crazy lol. Can’t go anywhere without hearing that song man
— Aaron D. (@CoachAirDry) November 21, 2024
and
The fact that Shaboozey didn’t win a single Country Music Award despite having the #1 country song for like 3 months straight is proof that they don’t want somebody black to be the face of country music.
— BREEZY SUPREME (@BreezyxSupreme) November 21, 2024
But Shaboozey had a message.
Win or lose, I’m blessed by something or someone that has a power beyond my understanding.
— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) November 21, 2024
and
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.
— Shaboozey (@ShaboozeysJeans) November 21, 2024
