At the recent CMA Awards in Nashville, Shaboozey emerged as a prominent topic of conversation. Host Luke Bryan opened the event with playful Shaboozey puns, and the artist himself received recognition during Cody Johnson’s acceptance speech, although not all the jokes surrounding Shaboozey landed successfully.
The singer, whose real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze, shared with Billboard that his stage name originated in high school when his football coach mistakenly spelled his name. Shaboozey was nominated for two awards at the prestigious 58th Annual CMA Awards and performed his hit song “Tipsy (A Bar Song)” along with another track, “Highway.”
During the ceremony, Bryan remarked on Shaboozey’s performance, playfully referring to his hit song with a clever twist: “Yeah, we call that a sha-doozey.”
Later in the night, Cody Johnson won the album of the year award for “Leather.” Expressing his surprise, Johnson accepted the award from Don Johnson and Katharine McPhee and soon passed the mic to his team. Trent Willmon, Johnson’s producer, sparked confusion with his line, “This is for this cowboy who’s been kicking Shaboozey for a lot of years.” Fans took to social media to speculate about the comment, questioning whether it was a jab at Shaboozey or just a misguided pun.
Many viewers expressed their bewilderment over Willmon’s remark. One user suggested that it was an attempt at humor that fell flat, while another sought clarity on the intent behind the comment.
Shaboozey responded to the ceremony buzz shortly after the broadcast, sharing a cheerful photo on social media from inside an SUV limousine along with the caption, “ain’t nobody kicking me!” This light-hearted response demonstrates Shaboozey’s good-natured spirit and resilience in the face of misunderstanding.
The CMA Awards broadcast remains available for viewers on ABC until 10 p.m. CT, with streaming accessible the following day on Hulu.
This event highlights the rising prominence of Shaboozey in the country music scene, showcasing his performances and engagement with fans, indicating a bright future ahead for the artist.