The CMT Awards were handed out on Sunday, and somehow the night ended without a single victory for country star Morgan Wallen. Wallen’s constant chart-topping and record-breaking were not enough to secure an award at the show meant to celebrate the most successful artists in country music.
Following a PR nightmare where Wallen was caught on video uttering the “n-word” after a night out with some of his closest friends, it seems that plenty of folks in the entertainment industry are unwilling to forgive him regardless of any apologies or steps that were taken to assuage the hate.
While some were keen to cancel Wallen for a word that he said jokingly in conversation with a close friend, the CMTs basically pretended that he didn’t exist. Wallen was only nominated for two awards, winning neither, even after a record-setting year, according to Billboard. As The American Tribune wrote, country music fans were not so disgusted by Wallen and continued to stream his music:
“Country music fans like what they like, and they liked Morgan Wallen. His sales went through the roof, and since ultimately it’s all about the money and not really the virtue, his label and country radio took him back with open arms, much to the pearl clutching and salty tears of leftists everywhere. Now, with his latest album being a gargantuan, 36 song success, his latest number one, “Last Night” has prompted lefties in the media to take aim once again and attempt to downplay Wallen’s success.”
Wallen, for his part, went on an apology tour where he donated to organizations that fought against racism and went out of his way to learn more about why people were upset at what he said. Even after all of that, the media still cannot stand to allow him to win awards. So, despite bending the knee to the woke mob, he was still snubbed by the CMT Awards.
Meanwhile, that same awards show had a performance with a group of drag queens dancing, despite it being just days after a transgender individual murdered three kids and three teachers at a Christian school in Nashville.
Kelsea Ballerini proudly performing “If You Go Down (I’m Goin’ Down Too)” with a parade of Drag Queens at #CMTAwards! 💋 pic.twitter.com/3O6H0wblpl
— Ian Saint (@iansaint_) April 3, 2023
Posting about the performance on Twitter, Kelsey Ballerini said, “If you go down, i’m going down too 🏳️🌈 // thank you to these iconic queens and @manilaluzon @kennedyddoftx @janjanjan@TheOliviaLux and @CMT for celebrating love, self expression, and performance.”
That wasn’t all. Shania Twain used her time on stage to demand that country music be more “inclusive,” saying that she would “continue to champion the many outstanding country artists that are not currently played… streamed, toured, or awarded at the level they deserve.”
She then went on to declare “I believe in an all-inclusive country music. This is a genre of music with a rich history that raised and nurtured my own songwriting and performance and recording career from childhood. Currently, the industry standard does a real disservice to this. … My hope is this opportunity and spotlight impresses you much, and lights up the careers of these very talented people on their journey. I will continue to do my best as a trailblazer. Together, let’s ensure all our fellow artists get equal play regardless of gender, age, or race.”
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