Kelly Clarkson reacts to Beyoncé's CMAs snub, recalls being told she'd have to 'quit pop' to make it in country

Kelly Clarkson was surprised but not shocked to hear that Beyoncé's album Cowboy Carter wasn't nominated in any category at the upcoming CMA Awards.

"I kind of find it fascinating, because I feel like those songs were everywhere," the singer and talk show host said Thursday in an interview with NBC10 Boston.

EW has reached out to a representative for Carter and to the Country Music Association.

While it didn't net any nominations, Cowboy Carter had commercial success. Lead single "Texas Hold 'Em" hit No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart, and Bey's devoted fans boosted it to break streaming records. Among other things, the album featured country music great Dolly Parton introducing the artist's cover of her hit "Jolene" and tracks with other Black artists in the genre.

"At the end of the day, I mean, I've always kind of learned in this industry, it's not necessarily about the awards and it’s not necessarily about any of that really," Clarkson said. "It's just people are showing up though, right? Like, you're massive."

The "Since U Been Gone" singer said that, in her own experience, the country music genre is a tough one to crack.

"I was told at a lunch, if I didn't quit pop music and just go country, I would not be played," Clarkson said. "I was literally told that to my face at a lunch, and I was like, 'Okay, I mean, no offense, but, like, I'm not ever gonna just pick one.'"

Clarkson said that was "very hard" for her.

"I grew up on country music," Clarkson said. "I imagine Beyoncé did too. We're both Texans, so you can't escape it, you know, growing up there."

Like the "Kellyoke" segments on her Kelly Clarkson Show, Clarkson said her concerts are packed with a mix of genres, and audiences seem to approve.

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The crowds "like hearing the country stuff. They like hearing the pop. They like hearing all the different things. [I’m] sure they do with her as well."

She added, "I think the real win there is that you don't even need the award."