
Shaboozey Clarifies His Viral Side-Eye At The 2025 AMAs Had “Nothing To Do” With Megan Moroney
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Shaboozey and Megan Moroney
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Shaboozey clarified that his viral AMAs side-eye had nothing to do with Megan Moroney.
He publicly defended Moroney from online backlash, calling her âamazingâ and âhard-working.â
The award show moment reignited conversations about country musicâs Black roots and cultural erasure.
No, Shaboozey wasnât trying to shade Megan Moroney at the 2025 American Music Awards on Monday (May 26). Taking to Instagram on Tuesday (May 27) night, the âA Bar Song (Tipsy)â artist clarified the situation after his viral side-eye moment involving the fellow country singer.
âJust want to clear something up: My reaction at the AMAs had nothing to do with Megan Moroney! Sheâs an incredibly talented, hard-working artist whoâs doing amazing things for country music, and Iâve got nothing but respect for her,â he commented under the âAm I Okay?â creatorâs most recent post.
For those who missed it, the Virginia-born artist looked understandably confused when Moroney stated that the Carter Family, the first to ever win Favorite Country Duo or Group at the AMAs, âbasically invented country music.â Shaboozey didnât say anything out of pocket, though he did let out a small laugh.
âIâve seen some hateful comments directed at her today, and thatâs not what this moment was about,â Shaboozey continued. âLetâs not twist the message. She is amazing and someone who represents the country community in the highest light!â
A quick glance at Moroneyâs Instagram comments sees reactions like, âLetâs do our research on where country music came from,â and âWhat was your point in being shady like that?â Clearly, some fans felt the singerâs remarks minimized or ignored Black contributions to country music entirely.
Itâs also worth pointing out that Lesley Riddle, who Black Music Project calls an âinstrumental figure in the birth of country music,â was actually the one who taught A.P. Carter his signature guitar-picking style.
Then, of course, there’s the coincidence of the Carter Family sharing a last name with BeyoncĂ©, who notably won Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album that night. Not only did the âTEXAS HOLD âEMâ singer beat Moroney in both categories, but sheâs also faced plenty of hurdles when it came to being accepted in the genre.
Beyond shutting down the rumors, Shaboozeyâs response also spotlights a deeper conversation about who gets credit in country music. As the genre continues to evolve, moments like these remind us that its roots run deeper than the mainstream narrative.