One of the most talked-about moments from Wednesday night’s three-hour-plus CMA Awards was Beyonce and Dixie Chicks’ show-stopping rendition of the former’s Lemonade standout “Daddy Lessons” — but now there is no mention of the performance anywhere on the show’s website or social media accounts.
Despite going head-to-head in the ratings against Game 7 of the World Series, 12.8 million viewers tuned in to ABC for the 50th installment of the CMAs, a solid viewership haul that fell a million shy of last year’s telecast. However, nearly 24 hours later, a quick search for “Beyonce” and “The Dixie Chicks” on the show’s official website, CMAWorld.com, and Twitter account, @CountryMusic, yields zero results mentioning either act or their joint performance.
When the impromptu announcement that Beyonce would be performing at the CMAs popped up on news feeds hours before the broadcast, a wave of #BoycottCMA tweets flooded social media. Critics slammed the awards show for recruiting the legendary country trio — who were vocal about their thoughts on former President George W. Bush and Sen. Ted Cruz, both noted Republicans — and Beyonce, who paid homage to the Black Panther Party with her politically charged performance of “Formation” at the Super Bowl.
A rep for the Country Music Association sent the following statement to Billboard: “CMA has not erased any mentions of Beyonce’s performance on the CMA Awards. In advance of the broadcast, CMA removed a five-second promotional clip from ABC.com and CMA’s Facebook page. The promo was unapproved and CMA removed it prior to the broadcast. Beyonce’s performance with Dixie Chicks was a highlight of the evening and we are continuing to share the amazing full-length performance clip via our official social channels.”
On Thursday afternoon, this was tweeted from the Dixie Chicks’ account:
If we all turn this up really loud, together we can drown out the hate. https://t.co/PWJcDeNmuR
— Dixie Chicks (@dixiechicks) November 3, 2016
Later on Thursday, Dixie Chicks’ Natalie Maines made several jokes on Twitter, saying that her band and Beyonce had been invited back to co-host the show next year, but she had to decline. She also went on to say she had “used” the CMA Awards to fulfill her dream of singing with Beyonce.
@marykatestar It’s ok. I used them to fulfill my dream of singing with Bey.
(On their dime;)— Natalie Maines (@1NatalieMaines) November 3, 2016
Hey everybody!The CMA’s just called and asked us to co-host next year’s show with Beyoncé.Unfortunately I’ve got a thing that night so, no.
— Natalie Maines (@1NatalieMaines) November 3, 2016
“You know you dat Bitch when you cause all this conversation. Always stay gracious best revenge is your paper.” #Bey #Slay
— Natalie Maines (@1NatalieMaines) November 3, 2016
Billboard has reached out to reps for Beyonce for comment.
This article originally appeared in Billboard.com.
Nov. 3, 4:22 p.m.: Updated with Country Music Association response.
Nov. 3, 4:57 p.m.: Updated with Maines‘ tweets
