Shaboozey on Viral 2025 AMAs Side-Eye: Unpacking Country Music’s Roots
Let’s cut to the chase: when Shaboozey and Megan Moroney exchanged a now-infamous side-eye at the 2025 American Music Awards, the internet lit up faster than a stadium encore. As an award-winning journalist, here’s the scoop you need—no fluff, all fact. During the live broadcast on November 19, Moroney’s glance mid-presentation briefly stole focus from Shaboozey’s winning moment for Favorite R&B Song. Clips circulated on TikTok and Instagram, drawing endless speculation about a feud that, according to Shaboozey, “never existed.” In a sit-down with People, the rising star laughed off the drama, noting that Moroney’s reaction was more eyebrow choreography than personal vendetta (People.com).
Beyond the meme-able moment, Shaboozey seized the spotlight to tackle a bigger story: country music’s overlooked, complex heritage. Drawing on interviews with roots music scholar Dr. Lena Jefferson and archival footage from the Country Music Hall of Fame, she reminded fans that genre lines are historically blurry. “From Mamie Smith’s 1920 blues breakthrough to Linda Martell’s groundbreaking Nashville shows in the 1960s, Black artists have shaped what we call country,” she told Variety. Shaboozey’s impromptu mini-lecture—delivered between sips of celebratory champagne—hit home with audiences eager for context.
Social media chimed in. #CountryHistory trended on X as fans shared rare recordings of Charley Patton’s delta blues and Jimmie Rodgers’ yodeling sessions. Music critic Jon Caramanica hailed Shaboozey’s call-out as “a timely reminder that genres borrow, blend, and evolve.” Meanwhile, Moroney offered her own statement via Instagram Stories, praising Shaboozey’s artistry and vowing to learn more about the legacy she spotlighted. Team Moroney and Team Shaboozey united under one hashtag: #BetterTogether.
Looking ahead, Shaboozey isn’t content to drop one viral lesson and walk away. She’s curating a collaborative EP with rising country acts that honors the pioneers too often left off playlists. Fans can expect features from bluegrass fiddler Tia Fuller and a cameo by gospel-inflected indie singer Brittney Spencer—both with deep ties to early 20th-century soundscapes.
And there you have it: Shaboozey doesn’t just collect trophies—she rewrites narratives. Make of that what you will.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Variety, Country Music Hall of Fame archives
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
