Luke Bryan says there’s a seat for every artist at the Country music table, but if they’re looking for awards, they should to plan on sticking around awhile.
LISTEN NOW: Luke Bryan urges Beyoncé to 'get in the family' after the singer received 0 CMA Awards nominations
Bryan, a 5-time CMA Entertainer of the Year winner recently joined Sirius XM’s Andy Cohen Live where he was asked his thoughts about so many artists drifting into the Country lane. In particular, Bryan was asked his thoughts on Beyoncé, who recently made headlines for not receiving any CMA Award nominations following her record-breaking Country-infused album, COWBOY CARTER, earlier this year.
"It's a tricky question because, obviously Beyoncé made a Country album and Beyoncé has a lot of fans out there that have her back,” Bryan said. “If she doesn't get something they want, man, they come at you.”
Bryan made clear he doesn’t believe the lack of nominations has anything to do with acceptance or talent with Bey, but more about fully immersing herself in the genre and giving Country fans the opportunity to fully embrace her as a part of the genre. “Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a Country album, nobody's mad about it,” Luke expressed. “But where things get a little tricky and, and you know — if you're gonna make Country albums, come into our world and be Country with us a little bit.”
He continued, “Beyoncé can do exactly what she wants to. She's probably the biggest star in music. But come to an award show and high-five us, and have fun and get in the family too. And I'm not saying she didn't do that.”
While Bryan doesn’t have all the answers (nor do we expect him to), he concluded that making Country music, to him, is more about the passion to do so, and the awards nominations don’t always reflect that directly.
“I’m all for everybody coming in and making Country albums and all that. But just by declaring that, just because she made one... I don't need [a nomination], just 'cause I make one.”
For those curious, all CMA nominees and winners are determined by CMA members who vote for the nominees and winners through three rounds of balloting. The CMA is a trade group with over 6,000 members, including artists, music executives, songwriters, publicists, and other industry professionals.
Hear more about Luke’s thoughts by checking out his entire interview with Andy Cohen above.