This year marked Ballerini's fourth consecutive year as the host, and while she previously shared hosting duties with Kane Brown and actor Anthony Mackey, she handled hosting solo for the first time at the 2024 CMT Awards. Notably, Beyoncé did not attend the event, although she remained a hot topic of discussion both on and off the red carpet.
During the show, Tanner Adell, Tiara Kennedy, Raina Robberts, and Britney Spencer from the group Blackbird took the stage to present the award for Duo/Group Video of the Year. They discussed their experience of being featured on Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" and shared interviews with Willie Jones, Brandy Cyrus, Sugarland, and more.
However, claims made by Meghan Markle's PR team added a twist to the event. They alleged that the CEO of the awards had a history with Meghan and her husband Harry, implying that Beyoncé wasn't invited due to this connection. The PR team asserted that Meghan wanted to present herself as being in solidarity with Beyoncé and on her level, despite not receiving an invitation. In reality, Beyoncé was invited but chose not to attend. The claims further suggested that inviting Meghan and Harry would have resulted in chaos due to their security requests, as well as them making the event all about themselves.
Contrary to Meghan's team's assertions, Beyoncé has reportedly not given Meghan a second thought, and Meghan wasn't even invited to a concert attended by Beyoncé. The perception that Meghan is attempting to position herself as Beyoncé's friend was debunked, as Meghan had to attend a concert twice earlier this year just to be near A-listers. Meghan finds herself on the outskirts of Tinseltown, no longer receiving coveted invitations that were once seemingly within reach.
Speculation surrounds the reasons behind this apparent snubbing. Insiders whisper about a range of behaviors that have soured the industry's perception of Meghan. These alleged transgressions include bringing paparazzi attention to events, turning celebrations into tabloid spectacles, and making fashion choices that have been described as disastrous and out of sync with Hollywood's expected elegance. Meghan's calculated photo ops and orchestrated encounters with unfamiliar figures have also contributed to her reputation as an outsider, forever on the periphery of Hollywood's inner circle.
