The 2025 American Music Awards took place smoothly on Monday, May 26, but the night was not without some awkward moments. The most notable one involved Shaboozey and Megan Moroney. Shaboozey later responded to his viral moment from the event on Twitter, using the chance to share a brief history lesson about country music.
The awkward incident occurred when Shaboozey and Megan appeared on stage to present the award for Best Country Duo or Group. Shaboozey began by saying, “Country music has been an important part of AMA history. The very first year of this show, the award for Favorite Male Country Artist went to the great Charley Pride.” Megan then added, “That same year, Favorite Female Artist went to Lynn Anderson. And this award went to the Carter family, who basically invented country music.”
It was Megan’s last comment about the Carter family inventing country music that caused Shaboozey to give an eye roll mixed with a confused side-eye and a brief awkward pause before laughing and continuing. His reaction quickly went viral. Many now believe this moment will secure the “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” singer a spot in the country music meme hall of fame. It appears Megan might have been reading from a teleprompter when she made that claim, which caught some by surprise.
Thanks in part to Beyoncé and her Cowboy Carter collaborators, including Shaboozey, Black country artists are gaining more recognition in the mainstream. Considering ongoing discussions about the true origins of country music and its history of overlooking Black performers, Shaboozey’s reaction was understandable.
After the awards, Shaboozey addressed his eye roll on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “When you uncover the true history of country music, you find a story so powerful that it cannot be erased…” He followed this with a more positive message: “The real history of country music is about people coming together despite their differences, and embracing and celebrating the things that make us alike.”
Megan has not publicly responded to the viral clip, but there appears to be no bad feelings between the two. In the end, the moment brought some extra publicity—and all’s well that ends well.
Related Topics
