Country singer Gavin Adcock has stirred up controversy after publicly criticizing Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter, saying the chart-topping album doesn’t belong in the country music genre. The moment, captured on video and quickly shared across social media, has ignited debate over what defines country music—and who gets to be part of it.
During a recent live performance, Adcock vented his frustration after learning that Cowboy Carter had surpassed his album on the Apple Music Country charts.
“You can tell her we’re coming for her f**king a**,” Adcock said from the stage, holding what appeared to be a bottle of Jack Daniel’s. “That sh** ain’t country music, and it ain’t ever been country music, and it ain’t gonna be country music.”
Country artist Gavin Adcock slams Beyoncé after his album currently ranks below ‘COWBOY CARTER’ on the Apple Music Country chart:
“That s*** ain’t country music and it ain’t ever been country music, and it ain’t gonna be country music.” pic.twitter.com/rKwaqymt5t
— Pop Crave (@PopCrave) June 30, 2025
Adcock Doubles Down
Following the viral moment, Adcock took to Instagram to expand on his comments. While he acknowledged enjoying Beyoncé’s older music, he claimed Cowboy Carter shouldn’t be categorized within the country genre.
“It doesn’t sound country. It doesn’t feel country,” Adcock said in a video post. “I just don’t think that people that have dedicated their whole lives to this genre and this lifestyle should have to compete… just because she’s Beyoncé.”
The singer captioned the post simply: “It just ain’t country.”
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Despite Adcock’s stance, Cowboy Carter has enjoyed immense success. The album debuted at No. 1 and later earned Beyoncé the Grammy for Best Country Album, making her the first Black woman to win in that category.
Fans Defend Beyoncé’s Country Roots
Despite the criticism, Beyoncé’s fans were quick to respond, defending her place in country music and calling out what many viewed as a double standard.
“Imagine saying she ain’t country, but having no issue with artists from the northeast faking southern accents. Makes you wonder why that is…” one fan asked.
“they used to say i spoke, ‘too country’
and the rejection came, said i wadn’t, ‘country ‘nough’”imagine saying she ain’t country, but having no issue with artists from the northeast faking southern accents. makes you wonder why that is… https://t.co/N0JmXddp6c
— BEY-Z (@beyzhive) June 26, 2025
Others pointed to Beyoncé’s directly saying this was her own interpretation of the genre.
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“She said from the jump, “this isn’t a country album. It’s a Beyoncé album”, admitting it was her interpretation of country, in a sense. Folks just mad bc she outselling them while being new to the genre.”
She said from the jump, “this isn’t a country album. It’s a Beyoncé album”, admitting it was her interpretation of country, in a sense. Folks just mad bc she outselling them while being new to the genre. https://t.co/Rib1Ysswki
— Ally McBeal (@RatedMforMandy) June 30, 2025
Chart Success Despite the Noise
Cowboy Carter continues to perform well across platforms, with tracks from the album receiving critical acclaim and heavy streaming. Beyoncé’s win at the 2025 Grammys solidified her presence in country music, even if her presence still sparks controversy.
Whether the criticism continues or not, Beyoncé’s fans, and a growing number of country artists, appear ready to defend her right to redefine what country can sound like in 2025 and beyond.
