What Happened at the CMAs?
During Cody Johnson’s acceptance speech for Leather winning album of the year, producer Trent Willmon made an off-the-cuff comment, saying,
“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 comment immediately caught the attention of fans, many of whom interpreted it as a jab at Shaboozey, the rising star behind the chart-topping hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”. Social media was ablaze with reactions, ranging from confusion to outright anger, as fans debated whether the remark was meant as an insult or simply a poorly worded joke.
Willmon’s Response to the Backlash
On Saturday (Nov. 23), Trent Willmon took to Instagram to clarify his remarks and apologize for any unintended offense. In his post, he explained:
“Ok… what I meant to express in my overly-shocked and excited state was that I am very proud of @codyjohnson. He has worked his BOOTY off the last 15 years putting out and performing great music and it’s not an overnight success. I was so proud he’s finally getting recognized!”
Willmon also acknowledged Shaboozey’s response to the situation, expressing his admiration for the artist’s sense of humor and success.
“And shout out to Shaboozey for your response to my fumble and having a great sense of humor, congrats on that 17-Week #1 Song!”
Shaboozey’s Lighthearted Reaction
Despite the controversy, Shaboozey appeared unfazed by the remarks. The “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” singer took to X (formerly Twitter) after the CMAs, posting a photo with the caption:
“Ain’t nobody kicking me!”
His playful response earned him praise from fans, who appreciated his grace and humor in handling the situation.
Shaboozey’s Rising Stardom
Though Shaboozey didn’t win any trophies at the 2024 CMA Awards, he remains a formidable force in the music industry. His breakout single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has dominated the Billboard Hot 100 chart, spending an impressive 18 nonconsecutive weeks at No. 1. With just one more week, it could set a new record.
In addition to his chart success, Shaboozey is up for five Grammy Awards in 2025, including:
- Best Country Song (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”)
- Best Country Solo Performance (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”)
- Song of the Year (“A Bar Song (Tipsy)”)
- Best New Artist
- Best Melodic Rap Performance for his collaboration “Spaghettii” with Beyoncé and Linda Martell.
These nominations solidify Shaboozey’s status as a genre-blending artist with broad appeal.
A Lesson in Missteps and Reconciliation
The incident at the CMAs serves as a reminder of how quickly comments can be misinterpreted in the spotlight. However, Trent Willmon’s prompt and sincere apology, coupled with Shaboozey’s gracious reaction, has helped to diffuse the situation.
As Shaboozey continues to make waves in both country and mainstream music, and Cody Johnson basks in the success of Leather, fans have much to celebrate as these artists carve their respective paths in the industry.
What do you think of Willmon’s comments and Shaboozey’s response? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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