At the 2025 American Music Awards, country star Shaboozey raised eyebrows with a puzzled expression during a scripted line delivered by co-presenter Megan Moroney, which claimed that “the Carter Family basically invented country music.” His reaction quickly went viral.
The next morning, Shaboozey addressed it by referencing overlooked Black pioneers in country music, tweeting: “Google: Lesley Riddle, Steve Tarter, Harry Gay, DeFord Bailey, and The Carter Family.” He later wrote: “The real history of country music is about people coming together… and cannot be erased.”
He made clear that his reaction wasn’t aimed at Moroney: “She’s an incredibly talented, hard-working artist… Let’s not twist the message.”
Shaboozey’s visible reaction echoed growing national conversations around country music’s diverse roots, especially in light of recent efforts by artists like Beyoncé and Rhiannon Giddens to highlight the genre’s African American influences.
Lesley Riddle, a Black blues musician, played a key role in shaping the Carter Family’s sound — a fact often left out of mainstream narratives. Critics, including country artist Rissi Palmer, noted the AMAs’ comment ignored this context: “Behind every founding father and mother of Country music stands a Black musician…”
Musician Dom Flemons urged viewers to learn the full story, stressing both the Carter Family’s influence and Riddle’s critical but often overlooked contribution.
Despite the backlash over the scripting, Shaboozey’s response has added momentum to the ongoing push for a more inclusive and accurate telling of country music’s origins.
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