The absence of “Cowboy Carter” among the slate of nominees was conspicuous: “Texas Hold ‘Em,” her sprawling album’s first single, soared to the top of the charts, including the country list, and the album was widely considered a smash.

Beyonce’s “Cowboy Carter” is a full-throated ode to her southern US roots, a rollicking revue that also deals a vital history lesson on the Black lineage of country music.

Nashville’s gatekeepers have long tried to promote a rigid view of country music that’s overwhelmingly white and male – “Cowboy Carter” skewered that notion.

She leads listeners through country’s evolution from African American spirituals and fiddle tunes to its pioneering women.

Morgan Wallen, the controversial country-pop singer who has found enormous streaming success, received the most nominations with seven, including for the coveted “Entertainer of the Year” title.

Chris Stapleton and Cody Johnson received five nominations each.

Lainey Wilson notched four, as did Post Malone, who segued into country this year from his warbling rock-rap. His single “I Had Some Help” features Wallen, and its nominations ushered that artist to the front of the pack.

Beyonce is no stranger to CMA controversy: she notably received racist comments after performing what was then her most country song to date, “Daddy Lessons,” at the 2016 CMA awards.

A Texan raised by a mother from Louisiana and a father from Alabama, Beyonce tackled the perceived “controversy” over her country turn this year on the track “Ameriican Requiem.”

“They used to say I spoke, ‘Too country’ / Then the rejection came, said I wasn’t, ‘Country enough’ / Said I wouldn’t saddle up, but if that ain’t country, tell me, what is?” Beyonce sings on the track, whose musical allusions include Buffalo Springfield’s classic “For What It’s Worth.”

“Cowboy Carter” was far more than country: it included technical mastery of a blend of styles including various country subsets as well as rap, dance, soul, funk, rock and gospel.