Shaboozey is nominated, will perform at CMA Awards: Who is the rising superstar?
Shaboozey is continuing his massive year at this year's Country Music Association Awards, cementing his rise as both a performer and nominee at the 2025 show.
The Nigerian-American singer is nominated for new artist of the year and single of the year for his smash hit "A Bar Song (Tipsy)," which interpolates the throwback rap song "Tipsy" by J-Kwon, at the CMA Awards. He is also is poised to perform the viral song and his new single "Highway."
Even if he doesn't take home a prize at the award show on Wednesday, the ubiquitous tune has already made history.
Shaboozey's banner year kicked off when he was featured on "Spaghettii" and "Sweet Honey Buckin'" from Beyoncé's eighth studio album "Cowboy Carter." The record-breaking project put a spotlight on Black country artists and the genre's roots.
After receiving his first CMA Award nominations, Shaboozey thanked the Grammy-winning singer, who was snubbed at this year's award show with zero nods.
"Thank you Beyoncé for opening a door for us, starting a conversation, and giving us one of the most innovative country albums of all time!" he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
The Woodbridge, Virginia, native was born Collins Chibueze in 1995 and is the son of Nigerian immigrants. His father is a chicken farmer.
"Being from Virginia, you've got acts like Pharrell, Missy, and Timbaland, who do come from hip-hop. And you also have that country history as well with Patsy Cline, the Carter Family and Emmylou Harris," Shaboozey told the Tennessean earlier this year.
Shaboozey released his latest album "Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going" on May 31.
His single "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" has spent a record-breaking 18 weeks and counting atop Billboard's Hot 100 chart, making it the the longest-leading song on the list by a solo artist. The "Tipsy" tune is the second-longest No. 1 hit on Hot 100. He is one week away from tying the record held by Lil Nas X's “Old Town Road” featuring Billy Ray Cyrus.
Recently, Shaboozey garnered a total of five nominations for the 2025 Grammy Awards. He is up for best new artist along with song of the year, best country song and best country solo performance for "A Bar Song (Tipsy)." He is also nominated for best melodic rap performance for his feature on Beyoncé's song "Spaghettii" along with country music pioneer Linda Martell. "A Bar Song (Tipsy)" is also up for best remixed recording, but that award would go to the remixer, David Guetta.
This year, Shaboozey has rocked many stages including at the 2024 BET Awards in Los Angeles where he brought out J-Kwon for an epic performance. His appearance along with fellow "Cowboy Carter" collaborator Tanner Adell also fell into the larger picture of the expansion and inclusion of the country music genre in that award show.
The "Spaghettii" singer also won big at the 2024 People's Choice Country Awards in September, taking home the awards for new artist and new artist song for "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."
The CMA Awards will air live 7 p.m. CT Wednesday on ABC from Nashville's Bridgestone Arena.
Follow Caché McClay, the Paste BN Network's Beyoncé Knowles-Carter reporter, on Instagram, TikTok and X as @cachemcclay.