Shaboozey addressed the viral moment with a response on X (formerly Twitter). He name-dropped many of the Black pioneers of country music.

“Google: Lesley Riddle, Steve Tarter, Harry Gay, DeFord Bailey, and The Carter Family,” Shaboozey tweeted.

He deleted that tweet but soon addressed the situation again.

“When you uncover the true history of country music, you find a story so powerful that it cannot be erased,” he wrote on X. “The real history of country music is about people coming together despite their differences, and embracing and celebrating the things that make us alike.”

Last year, Shaboozey’s Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going reached gold status. He also made two appearances on Beyoncé’s COWBOY CARTER album and his “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” rose to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100. His success coincided with a renewed visibility for Black country artists.

This week, Shaboozey also defended Moroney, who he described as “amazing.”

“Just want to clear something up: my reaction at the AMAs had nothing to do with Megan Moroney!” he wrote. “She’s an incredibly talented, hard-working artist who’s doing amazing things for country music and I’ve got nothing but respect for her.

“I’ve seen some hateful comments directed at her today, and that’s not what this moment was about. Let’s not twist the message — she is amazing and someone who represents the country community in the highest light!”