At the 2025 American Music Awards, country artist Shaboozey drew attention for his puzzled reaction when a scripted line claimed that the Carter Family “basically invented country music.” While he later clarified that his reaction was not aimed at his co-presenter Megan Moroney, his response highlighted a broader concern about the erasure of Black contributions to the genre’s origins. Shaboozey and others, including artists like Rissi Palmer and Dom Flemons, pointed out that while the Carter Family played a foundational role and were among the first commercially successful country artists, they did not invent the genre on their own. Country music was shaped by a mixture of cultural influences, including the essential work of Black musicians like Lesley Riddle, who collaborated with the Carters and helped develop their sound. Therefore, the claim that the Carter Family singlehandedly invented country music is false.
