CMA Awards 2019: Fans rage against 'poppy' awards show and ask 'where's the country'
The state of country music today has been a topic of debate for decades and it doesn't look like it'll be dying down anytime soon. While the 2019 Country Music Association Awards held at the Bridgestone Arena in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 13, was, for the most part, a resounding success, some country fans were not all that happy with the songs and artists who were featured during the ceremony.
Pop country music duo Dan + Shay was one of the unfortunate acts who got a bit of hate from more traditionally-minded fans. Dan + Shay made quite a splash at the event and most viewers who tuned in were very happy with their music but as always, there are exceptions.
One country music lover who goes by @alco_VOL_ic took to Twitter to express his disappointment with the Dan + Shay performance and Sturgill Simpson's absence from the stage saying, "Country music awards and we got these two goobers on stage and not sturgill. HA #CMAawards2019"
Other fans who commented on Dan + Shay's position in the country music industry were a bit more balanced, acknowledging that they are talented musicians even though they may not strictly qualify as country musicians, at least according to some fans' standards. "These guys (Dan and Shay) are very talented," @Bill_Lunn_News tweeted. "Great singers. But this is NOT country music."
Dan + Shay aren't the only ones who got dragged by traditionalist fans. Some had issues with Carrie Underwood's performance, which many fans found to be far more pop than country, while others aired their disappointment at Blake Shelton's 'God's Country' winning the award for Single of the Year by comparing it to the music of Canadian rock band Nickelback.
"I swear this is a cover of a Britney Spears song. But damn tired of carries shit." - @alco_VOL_ic
"'God’s Country' by Blake Shelton sounds like Nickleback." - @jessecbrooks
However, the CMAs did have something for everyone and even the most conservative country fans were happy to see Luke Combs winning awards for Song of the Year and Male Vocalist of the Year. One fan, going by @mariekatie47, tweeted saying, "So glad there's a current voice in country that's traditional and is hyped up! Effing love Luke Combs!!!"
The fact that country music has changed a lot since its origins is something that cannot be disputed but whether what's considered country today can truly qualify as country music or not is something that depends more on personal taste than anything else. For better or worse, country's changing and it'll probably keep on changing in the years to come, whether we like it or not.