In response, several high-profile country artists have spoken out in defense of Beyoncé. “This is ridiculous,” tweeted Kacey Musgraves. “Country music is supposed to be about storytelling, and no one tells a story better than Beyoncé.”

Meanwhile, rising star Mickey Guyton, one of the few Black women in mainstream country today, expressed her frustration in an interview. “Country music should be for everyone. We can’t keep putting up these walls and pretending that certain voices don’t belong here. If Beyoncé isn’t country, then what does that say about the rest of us?”

As for Beyoncé, the artist has remained characteristically graceful in the face of the CMA’s decision. Sources close to her say that she’s focusing on her music and her fans, undeterred by the industry’s rejection.

“She’s Beyoncé,” said one of her collaborators. “She doesn’t need the CMA. They need her. If they can’t see what she’s brought to country music, that’s their loss.”

And with that, it seems Beyoncé will continue to blaze her own trail, CMA be damned. While the Nashville establishment might not be ready to embrace her, the rest of the world has already crowned her the queen of country. Or at the very least, the queen of whatever genre she decides to conquer next.

One thing is certain: Beyoncé’s not leaving the country stage quietly. She’s going to saddle up, ride off into the sunset, and make sure the rest of us know what country really sounds like.