There’s been much said about Beyonce’s performance at the CMAs earlier in the week, from some celebration of her team-up with the Dixie Chicks to controversy over the Country Music Association removing all references of the performance online. There was even a backlash against Kenny Chesney because his reaction didn’t seem to be up to snuff for Beyonce fans.
Some people called out the awards for inviting Beyonce to perform and one of the prominent voices from Country Music has been Travis Tritt, discussing and criticizing the Association on Thursday with a selection of Twitter posts:
https://twitter.com/Travistritt/status/794383857059557376
FYI – My band and I are gonna try to work up Beyoncé's "All The Single Ladies" for all you die hard country fans who love traditional music!
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 4, 2016
I want to know when the BET or SoulTrain awards are gonna ask a country artist to perform on their awards show?
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 4, 2016
He then added some clarity to those posts instead of just leaving them as jabs against Beyonce, Tritt criticizes the show for inviting a pop star on to draw viewers or ratings as opposed to letting Country music stand on its own.
As I see it, country music has appealed to millions for many years. We can stand on our own and don't need pop artists on our awards shows.
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 4, 2016
https://twitter.com/Travistritt/status/794407837225144320
That's it for me tonight folks! God bless you all and goodnight!
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 4, 2016
Now this could be where it ends, but the internet doesn’t sleep and word does travel when someone even seems to criticize Beyonce. While there doesn’t seem to be malice intended by Tritt’s opinion on the show, where was this criticism when Justin Timberlake was a guest on the show last year? Even if he was well intentioned, Tritt joined the mass of people who were being labeled “racist” by those supporting Beyonce and The Dixie Chicks. Worse yet, Tritt decided to keep responding to those claiming his criticism was racist:
I've worked with Charlie Pride, Buddy Guy, B.B. King, Patti Labelle, Randy Jackson, Sam Moore, Ray Charles, Isaac Hayes (cont.)
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 5, 2016
…Never thought I would ever be labeled as a racist.
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 5, 2016
What is so wrong with allowing pop/rap/country/R&B/soul/gospel/bluegrass/blues or rock shows celebrating their backgrounds?
— Travis Tritt (@Travistritt) November 5, 2016
Tritt was even taking time to respond to people one on one, either battling back at criticism or showing agreement with supporters. Once again, the best strategy if you have an opinion might be to just keep it to yourself. Even if you mean well, it can sometimes end up blowing up in your face.
(Via Global News)
