'Ain't Country Music': Singer Gavin Adcock Blasts Beyoncé Ahead of Kid Rock's MAGA Fest

Country singer Gavin Adcock's criticism of Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter has resurfaced ahead of his scheduled 12 September appearance at Rock The Country at Erie County Fairgrounds in Hamburg, New York. Adcock said in concert footage that circulated in late June 2025 that the Grammy-winning album 'ain't country music.'

For context, the remarks emerged while Adcock was discussing Apple Music's Country Albums chart during a live performance. Country Now reported at the time that his then-upcoming album, Own Worst Enemy, was No. 4 on the chart, behind releases including Beyoncé's Cowboy Carter.

Gavin Adcock's Beyoncé Comments Resurface

In footage from the performance, Adcock objected to Beyoncé's album appearing above his own on the country chart. He told the crowd that Cowboy Carter 'ain't country music' and said it would not become country music.

Adcock then introduced his next song as 'Southern f---in' rock' before continuing his set.

The comments circulated online and drew disagreement over Adcock's view of the album and the boundaries of the country genre.

Adcock later addressed the reaction in a video posted on social media. He said he had listened to Beyoncé while growing up because his mother played her music in the car and recalled enjoying her Super Bowl halftime performance.

'I'm gonna go ahead and clear this up,' Adcock said in the video. He added that he had heard 'a ton of Beyoncé songs' and remembered her halftime show as 'pretty kick-a-- back in the day.'

He nevertheless maintained his position on Cowboy Carter. Adcock said the album did not 'sound country' or 'feel country' to him and argued that artists who had dedicated themselves to the genre should not have to compete with it on country charts.

He also questioned why the album remained highly placed, saying it was there 'just because she's Beyoncé.' The comments reflected Adcock's stated opinion about genre classification rather than a factual finding about how the album should be categorised.

Cowboy Carter's Chart and Grammy Success

Cowboy Carter, released in March 2024, debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and also topped Billboard's Top Country Albums chart. The latter achievement made Beyoncé the first Black woman to lead the Top Country Albums ranking.

The album later won Best Country Album at the 2025 Grammy Awards, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to win that category. Cowboy Carter also won Album of the Year at the same ceremony.

Its accompanying Cowboy Carter Tour later became the highest-grossing country tour reported to Billboard Boxscore. Billboard figures show the 32-show tour grossed $407.6 million (£299.9 million) and sold 1.6 million tickets.

Those achievements do not resolve debates over musical genre, but they establish the album's commercial performance and recognition by major music-industry institutions.

Adcock Set for Rock The Country in Hamburg

Adcock is listed on the line-up for Rock The Country's Hamburg stop, which runs on 11 and 12 September at Erie County Fairgrounds. Live Nation lists Adcock among the performers for the Saturday, 12 September event alongside Kid Rock and other acts.

Rock The Country is promoted by Peachtree Entertainment, which has described the festival as a partnership with Kid Rock. Peachtree announced the 2026 tour as a series of events celebrating the United States' 250th anniversary through music, patriotism and community.

The official Hamburg line-up also includes Hank Williams Jr., Chris Janson, Nelly, Shenandoah and other performers across the two-day event.

Adcock's scheduled appearance has placed renewed attention on his 2025 remarks about Beyoncé, but there is no indication in the sources reviewed that he has made a new statement about her ahead of the Hamburg festival.

Beyoncé has not responded to Gavin's comments.