Republican Congressman Burgess Owens has sparked controversy by claiming Beyoncé's Grammy win for Best Country Album is attributable to DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives rather than merit.

During an interview with Nicholas Ballasy, Owens, Utah's only Black congressman, expressed skepticism about Beyoncé's historic Grammy win, stating, "I think that's the closest thing to DEI we're going to see right now." He admitted to not being a country music listener and based his criticism on fan reactions within the genre.

Owens argued that established country artists who've built their reputations shouldn't be overshadowed by celebrities from other genres, comparing the situation to debates about transgender women in sports. When asked for clarification about how the win exemplified DEI, Owens' team did not provide a response to The Salt Lake Tribune.

In contrast to Owens' claims, Beyoncé's album "Cowboy Carter" features collaborations with numerous established country artists, including:

• Dolly Parton
• Linda Martell
• Willie Nelson
• Tanner Adell
• Brittney Spencer
• Tiera Kennedy
• Reyna Roberts
• Shaboozey
• Willie Jones

During her acceptance speech, Beyoncé addressed genre constraints, stating, "I think sometimes genre is a codeword to keep us in our place as artists. I just want to encourage people to do what they're passionate about and to stay persistent." The artist is currently preparing for a tour supporting the award-winning album.

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