LOS ANGELES — What started as a glitzy celebration of country music turned into one of the most talked-about cultural flashpoints in recent awards show history. During the 2025 American Music Awards, rising country star Megan Moroney took the stage to accept the award for Favorite Country Female Artist. Her speech was heartfelt—until one particular comment turned the room ice-cold.

While thanking her inspirations, Moroney declared, “Without the Carter Family inventing country music, none of us would be here today.”

That’s when cameras cut to Shaboozey, the Virginia-born genre-blending artist whose unique mix of hip-hop, country, and Americana has catapulted him into the spotlight. In a single blink-and-you-miss-it moment, he shot a long, piercing side-eye from his seat in the second row. He didn’t clap. He didn’t smile. And he didn’t need to say a word—because the internet caught the moment and erupted within seconds.

Shaboozey, born Collins Obinna Chibueze, is no stranger to controversy in the country space. As a Black artist carving out his own lane in a genre long dominated by white voices, he’s spoken out frequently about the overlooked roots of country music in Black culture, gospel, blues, and slave spirituals.

So when Moroney’s comment effectively erased the centuries-old contributions of Black musicians to the genre’s foundation, many felt Shaboozey’s reaction was a silent protest—and an intentional one.

Within minutes, the clip was everywhere. The phrase “Shaboozey side-eye” began trending on X (formerly Twitter), TikTok exploded with lip-syncs and edits, and even major outlets began covering the moment.

But what happened backstage took the story from viral moment to full-on cultural reckoning.

According to sources who were present in the greenroom area, Shaboozey was visibly upset. “He wasn’t yelling, but he was shaking his head, pacing,” said one witness. “He kept repeating, ‘This is why the history matters.’”

Another witness, who asked to remain anonymous, claims that Shaboozey was approached by a fellow artist who attempted to defuse the situation by suggesting Moroney “didn’t mean it that way.” Shaboozey reportedly responded, “That’s the problem. They never mean it that way until someone calls them out.”

Later that evening, Shaboozey declined press interviews but issued a cryptic Instagram Story. It showed a black-and-white photo of Lead Belly, the legendary blues musician often credited with influencing early country sounds. The caption? “They told our stories first. Don’t forget that.”

The message was clear: country music did not begin with the Carter Family. While they are undeniably pioneers, the narrative often leaves out Black musicians who played a foundational role in shaping the genre’s early sound.

Megan Moroney, for her part, attempted damage control the next morning. In a tweet, she wrote: “I’ve always looked up to the Carter Family as icons, but I recognize that my comment last night didn’t reflect the full history of country music. I’m learning and I’m listening.”

Responses were mixed. While some applauded her quick apology, others saw it as too little, too late.

One comment on her post read, “You’re not just a performer now—you’re part of country’s future. Learn the past before rewriting it.”

By Wednesday afternoon, music historian Dr. LaTanya Phillips had weighed in on CNN, explaining, “This is a crucial teachable moment. Black contributions to country music have been erased or marginalized for generations. Shaboozey’s reaction is part of a larger resistance to that erasure.”

The AMAs have yet to issue a formal statement on the moment, though insiders say producers are “in talks” with cultural consultants for future award programming.

Meanwhile, Shaboozey’s silence has only added fuel to the fire. He’s remained tight-lipped since the incident, but sources close to his team confirm he’s considering addressing the moment publicly—on his own terms.

As for Megan Moroney, her team says she has reached out privately to Shaboozey. Whether he responds, or chooses instead to let his next track speak for itself, remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: country music’s old narratives are being challenged like never before. And with artists like Shaboozey at the forefront, moments like these won’t go unnoticed—or unchallenged—ever again.