Country music’s newest starShaboozey, has already set himself apart from other artists in the genre. In 2024, he achieved instant success with his single “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” earning him several nominations at this year’sGrammy Awards. Recently, the thirty-year-old graced the stage at theAmerican Music Awardsalongside fellow country music starMegan Moroney. However, it wasn’t the fact thatDan + Shay ended up taking home the award for Favorite Country Duo or Groupthat garnered attention, but ratherShaboozey’s reaction to Moroney’s speech. The incident, which has since gone viral, has reignited a longstanding discussion on social media about the origins of country music, which many believe has its roots in Black American culture.
Shaboozey Reacts to Megan Moroney’s Controversial Speech at the AMA’S
The 51st annual American Music Awards was held on Monday, May 26, and the event didn’t disappoint. FromBillie Eilish’s sweeping wins to fan favoritesTaylor SwiftandAriana Grande’s epic losses andJennifer Lopez’s steamy performance, the AMAs created many headlines. People are still buzzing about the prestigious award ceremony and one incident in particular has stirred up a great deal of controversy.
During one segment, country music starsShaboozey and Megan Moroneytook the stage to present the award for Favorite Country Duo or Group. Before Dan + Shay took home the award,Moroney gave a short speech that elicited a surprising reaction from Shaboozey. Shaboozey began the segment by saying, “Country music has been an important part of AMA history. The very first year of this show, the award for best country artist went to the great Charlie Pride.” Moroney then quipped with “That same year, favorite female artist went to Lynne Anderson.And this award went to the Carter Family, who basically invented country music.” It was during that moment that viewers noticedShaboozey giving Moroney the side eye, which many associated with Moroney’s statement that the early 20th-century music group,The Carter Family, invented country music.
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Social media was set ablaze following the incident, with many viewers praising Shaboozey’s reaction and criticizing Moroney for her off-the-cuff remark. One user wrote on X regarding the since viral moment, “Shaboozey clocked the nonsense in real time.Country music was invented by Black people!” While another user responded, “Country music is black (banjo and blues), white (fiddle, mandolin, folk), Polynesian (steel guitar, pedal steel), and Mexican (incorporating guitar styles, western swing, trumpets and accordion). Please don’t oversimplify the genre by saying, only Black people invented it.”
Shaboozey Addresses Viral Moment at AMA’s
FollowingMegan Moroney’s country music origin statement at the American Music Awards, Shaboozey issued two conflicting statements regarding his apparent reaction. In one statement, the “Last Of My Kind” singer defended Moroney in the comment section of one of her Instagram posts. “Just want to clear something up: my reaction at the AMAs had nothing to do with Megan Moroney!” he wrote. “She’s an incredibly talented, hard-working artist who’s doing amazing things for country music, and I’ve got nothing but respect for her.” He continued, “I’ve seen some hateful comments directed at her today and that’s not what this moment was about. Let’s not twist the message — she is amazing and someone who represents the country community in the highest light!” However, in an earlier statement posted on X, Shaboozey appeared to addressMoroney’s claim that the Carter Family ( who were Caucasian) invented country music. “When you uncover the true history of country music, you find a story so powerful that it cannot be erased…” He later added, “The real history of country music is about people coming together despite their differences, and embracing and celebrating the things that make us alike.”
Many interpreted Shaboozey’s latter statement in light of the longstandingdebate over the origins of country music, which many believe was (if not invented by) significantly influenced by African Americans, suggesting that the group played a pivotal role in its development.According to a report by Time magazineon Ken Burns' 2019 documentary titled Country Music, which explores the origins of the popular music genre, it states that country music has long been associated with African American artists. The article goes on to state that one of Black people’s major contributions to the genre can be found in the banjo, which has its origins with the West African lute. Althoughcountry music was initially referred to as hillbilly music, many of its familiar themes, according to Burns, had their origins inslave music from the South.
There have been many African American country music artists who have been vocal about the unjust backlash against their inclusion in the genre in the 21st century, despite the fact that their ancestors played a pivotal part in its development. In fact, in September 2023,Hootie & the Blowfish frontman Darius Ruckerrevealed in an interview with Billboard that when he first came to Nashville, he didn’t think he would get a record deal. He added that music executives told him they didn’t think audiences would ever accept a black country singer and that they later proved them wrong. He also noted that he felt his contribution helped propel other country artists to break through in the usually exclusive white genre.
