Shaboozey Side-Eyes After Megan Moroney Credits Carter Family

1 of 2

❯

❮

Grammy-nominated rapper and singer Shaboozey let out a hilarious reaction when Megan Moroney praised the white 1920s folk group, the Carter Family, for inventing country music at the 2025 American Music Awards (AMAs) on Monday.

American Music Award, Megan Moroney, Shaboozey, The Carter Family, AMA, Country Music — Source: Ethan Miller

Shaboozey, who was featured on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning 2024 country album, Cowboy Carter, shared an uncertain glance when Moroney referenced the Carter Family just before announcing the winner of Favorite Country Duo or Group, a title that ultimately went to Dan + Shay.

Shaboozey began by noting country music’s important role in AMA history, highlighting how the show’s very first award for Favorite Male Country Artist went to Charley Pride, the first Black artist of the genre to earn a number one country record in 1969.

“The very first year of this show, the award for Favorite Male Country Artist went to the great Charley Pride,” he read from the teleprompter with a bright smile.

However, that smile quickly gave way to a look of confusion when Moroney followed up with a reference to The Carter Family.

“That same year, Favorite Female Artist went to Lynn Anderson, and this award [Favorite Country Duo or Group] went to the Carter family, who basically invented country music,” she said.

The tail end of Moroney’s speech seemed to catch the “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” singer off guard. Shaboozey appeared to shoot her a quick side-eye, pausing to process the comment before letting out a laugh and moving on to present the nominees.

Moroney was talking about the Carter Family, often hailed as “the first family of country music,” according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Carter Family was a pioneering white American folk group whose influence stretched across the 1920s, ’30s, and ’40s. According to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, their timeless hits include “Wildwood Flower,” “Wabash Cannonball,” “Keep on the Sunny Side,” and “Can the Circle Be Unbroken.”

It’s unclear what exactly triggered Shaboozey’s reaction, but the brief moment quickly sparked speculation on social media. A few netizens on YouTube suggested that the rising star’s expression seemed to say, “Stop lying,” interpreting it as a subtle challenge to Moroney’s reference.

“Everyone knows that Black Americans invented country music and taught The Carter Family country music,” the user wrote, pointing to the genre’s well-documented ties to the Black church and gospel.

Another user added:

“They DEFINITELY did NOT invent country music️! Shaboozey knows it!”

Some social media users pointed fingers at the scriptwriters, arguing that the uncomfortable moment was more a case of poor writing than on-stage tension.

“They were the first family to go mainstream with country music. Whoever wrote the teleprompter was ignorant. Prior to that country music did not have a label,” another person commented.

In addition to Shaboozey’s moment causing a ruckus at the AMAs, the winners of this year’s awards have tongues wagging.

Hit the flip for that.

SEE ALSO

2025 AMAs Winners List

Regardless of the awkward moment, several Black artists had a standout night at this year’s awards, hosted by Jennifer Lopez.

2025 American Music Awards - Show — Source: Ethan Miller

Leading the pack was none other than Beyoncé, who made history by winning Favorite Female Country Artist and Favorite Country Album for her genre-bending project, Cowboy Carter. In the R&B categories, SZA took home Favorite Female R&B Artist and Favorite R&B Song for her hit, “Saturn,” while The Weeknd won Favorite R&B Album for Hurry Up Tomorrow.

Hip-hop was equally represented, with Kendrick Lamar’s viral anthem “Not Like Us” winning Favorite Hip-Hop Song, and Megan Thee Stallion being named Favorite Female Hip-Hop Artist. Rising global star Tyla also took home the award for Favorite Afrobeats Artist, rounding out a night that celebrated a broad spectrum of Black artistry across genres.

See the full list of AMA winners below.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Ariana Grande
Billie Eilish — WINNER
Chappell Roan
Kendrick Lamar
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone
Sabrina Carpenter
SZA
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan

NEW ARTIST OF THE YEAR

Benson Boone
Chappell Roan
Gracie Abrams — WINNER
Shaboozey
Teddy Swims
Tommy Richman

ALBUM OF THE YEAR

Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER
Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT — WINNER
Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Charli xcx – BRAT
Gracie Abrams – The Secret of Us
Future & Metro Boomin – WE DON’T TRUST YOU
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Post Malone – F-1 Trillion
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

SONG OF THE YEAR

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” — WINNER
Chappell Roan – “Good Luck, Babe!”
Hozier – “Too Sweet”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control

COLLABORATION OF THE YEAR

Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile” — WINNER
Marshmello & Kane Brown – “Miles on It”
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help”
ROSÉ & Bruno Mars – “APT.”
Taylor Swift featuring Post Malone – “Fortnight”

Chappell Roan – “HOT TO GO!”
Djo – “End of Beginning”
Doechii – “Anxiety” — WINNER
Lola Young – “Messy”
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”
Tommy Richman – “Million Dollar Baby”

FAVORITE TOURING ARTIST

Billie Eilish — WINNER
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Taylor Swift
Zach Bryan

FAVORITE MUSIC VIDEO

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us”
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With a Smile” — WINNER
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

FAVORITE MALE POP ARTIST

Benson Boone
Bruno Mars — WINNER
Hozier
Teddy Swims
The Weeknd

FAVORITE FEMALE POP ARTIST

Billie Eilish — WINNER
Chappell Roan
Lady Gaga
Sabrina Carpenter
Taylor Swift

FAVORITE POP ALBUM

Billie Eilish – HIT ME HARD AND SOFT — WINNER
Chappell Roan – The Rise and Fall of a Midwest Princess
Charli xcx – BRAT
Sabrina Carpenter – Short n’ Sweet
Taylor Swift – The Tortured Poets Department

FAVORITE POP SONG

Benson Boone – “Beautiful Things”
Billie Eilish – “Birds of a Feather” — WINNER
Lady Gaga & Bruno Mars – “Die With A Smile”
Sabrina Carpenter – “Espresso”
Teddy Swims – “Lose Control”

FAVORITE MALE COUNTRY ARTIST

Jelly Roll
Luke Combs
Morgan Wallen
Post Malone — WINNER
Shaboozey

FAVORITE FEMALE COUNTRY ARTIST

Beyoncé — WINNER
Ella Langley
Kacey Musgraves
Lainey Wilson
Megan Moroney

FAVORITE COUNTRY DUO or GROUP

Dan + Shay — WINNER
Old Dominion
Parmalee
The Red Clay Strays
Zac Brown Band

FAVORITE COUNTRY ALBUM

Beyoncé – COWBOY CARTER — WINNER
Jelly Roll – Beautifully Broken
Megan Moroney – Am I Okay?
Post Malone – F-1 Trillion
Shaboozey – Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going

FAVORITE COUNTRY SONG

Jelly Roll – “I Am Not Okay”
Koe Wetzel & Jessie Murph – “High Road”
Luke Combs – “Ain’t No Love in Oklahoma”
Post Malone featuring Morgan Wallen – “I Had Some Help” — WINNER
Shaboozey – “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”

FAVORITE MALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Drake
Eminem — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar
Future
Tyler, the Creator

FAVORITE FEMALE HIP-HOP ARTIST

Doechii
GloRilla
Latto
Megan Thee Stallion — WINNER
Sexyy Red

FAVORITE HIP-HOP ALBUM

Eminem – The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce) — WINNER
Future & Metro Boomin – WE DON’T TRUST YOU
Gunna – one of wun
Kendrick Lamar – GNX
Tyler, The Creator – CHROMAKOPIA

FAVORITE HIP-HOP SONG

Future, Metro Boomin & Kendrick Lamar – “Like That”
GloRilla – “TGIF”
GloRilla & Sexyy Red – “WHATCHU KNO ABOUT ME”
Kendrick Lamar – “Not Like Us” — WINNER
Kendrick Lamar & SZA – “Luther”

FAVORITE MALE R&B ARTIST

Bryson Tiller
Chris Brown
PARTYNEXTDOOR
The Weeknd — WINNER
Usher

FAVORITE FEMALE R&B ARTIST

Kehlani
Muni Long
Summer Walker
SZA — WINNER
Tyla

FAVORITE R&B ALBUM

Bryson Tiller – Bryson Tiller
PARTYNEXTDOOR – PARTYNEXTDOOR 4 (P4)
PARTYNEXTDOOR & Drake – $ome $exy $ongs 4 U
SZA – SOS Deluxe: LANA
The Weeknd – Hurry Up Tomorrow — WINNER

FAVORITE R&B SONG

Chris Brown – “Residuals”
Muni Long – “Made For Me”
SZA – “Saturn” — WINNER
The Weeknd & Playboi Carti – “Timeless”
Tommy Richman – “Million Dollar Baby”

FAVORITE MALE LATIN ARTIST

Bad Bunny — WINNER
Feid
Peso Pluma
Rauw Alejandro
Tito Double P

FAVORITE FEMALE LATIN ARTIST

Becky G — WINNER
KAROL G
Natti Natasha
Shakira
Young Miko

FAVORITE LATIN DUO or GROUP

Calibre 50
Fuerza Regida
Grupo Firme
Grupo Frontera
Julión Álvarez y su Norteño Banda — WINNER

FAVORITE LATIN ALBUM

Bad Bunny – DeBÍ TiRAR MáS FOToS — WINNER
Fuerza Regida – Dolido Pero No Arrepentido
Peso Pluma – ÉXODO
Rauw Alejandro – Cosa Nuestra
Tito Double P – INCÓMODO

FAVORITE LATIN SONG

Bad Bunny – “DtMF”
FloyyMenor X Cris Mj – “Gata Only”
KAROL G – “Si Antes Te Hubiera Conocido”
Oscar Maydon & Fuerza Regida – “Tu Boda”
Shakira – “Soltera” — WINNER

FAVORITE ROCK ARTIST

Hozier
Linkin Park
Pearl Jam
Twenty One Pilots — WINNER
Zach Bryan

FAVORITE ROCK ALBUM

Hozier – Unreal Unearth: Unending
Koe Wetzel – 9 Lives
The Marías – Submarine
Twenty One Pilots – Clancy — WINNER
Zach Bryan – The Great American Bar Scene

FAVORITE ROCK SONG

Green Day – “Dilemma”
Hozier – “Too Sweet”
Linkin Park – “The Emptiness Machine” — WINNER
Myles Smith – “Stargazing”
Zach Bryan – “Pink Skies”

FAVORITE DANCE/ELECTRONIC ARTIST

Charli xcx
David Guetta
John Summit
Lady Gaga — WINNER
Marshmello

FAVORITE SOUNDTRACK

Arcane League of Legends: Season 2 — WINNER
Hazbin Hotel (Original Soundtrack)
Moana 2 (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) (Auliʻi Cravalho, Dwayne Johnson and cast)
Twisters: The Album
Wicked: The Soundtrack (Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande and cast)