Country music star takes questionable CMA awards joke in stride

Country singer Shaboozey is having such an excellent 2024 that he wasn’t going to let a joke get him down.
During Wednesday’s 2024 Country Music Association Awards, Cody Johnson won for album of the year. During his acceptance speech, he was joined by producer Trent Willmon, who then made a controversial comment.
“It takes an army of people to make a great record,” Wilmon told the audience. “But I gotta tell ya, this is for this cowboy who’s been kicking shaboozey for a lot of years, y’all.”
The comment drew some confusion and perhaps thoughts that Willmon was taking a dig at Shaboozey. Ultimately, people chalked it up to a bad pun that didn’t land with no ill will intended. Shaboozey, 29, responded later with a post on his X account with the caption, “Ain’t nobody kicking me.”
Shaboozey’s real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze. His stage name is derived from people imispronouncing his last name. Chibueze means “God is king” in Igbo, a language spoken in Nigeria. He was nominated for new artist of the year and single of the year at the 58th CMAs for “A Bar Song (Tipsy).” Unfortunately, he did go home empty-handed.
“A Bar Song (Tipsy)” has been No. 1 on Billboard Hot 100 for 18 nonconsecutive weeks and is one week away from tying Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road” (featuring Billy Ray Cyrus) for the record with 19th. The hit single was also named one of Spotify’s top five songs of the summer.
The country music star is also up for five Grammy Awards in 2025, including best country song, best country solo performance and song of the year.
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Murjani Rawls may be reached at [email protected] and followed on Twitter at @MurjaniRawls.