BREAKING: Roberts plant is boycotting the British Music Awards after hearing that Charli XCX was nominated for Best Female Country Artist
In a dramatic and unexpected move, legendary Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant has announced he will boycott this year’s British Music Awards after learning that pop-electronic artist Charli XCX has been nominated for Best Female Country Artist—a nomination he described as “utterly absurd” and “a disservice to the legacy of true country music.”
The announcement came via a handwritten letter shared to Plant’s official website and verified social media accounts on Saturday morning. The 76-year-old icon, known for his deep appreciation of roots music, folk traditions, and Americana, minced no words in his open condemnation of the nomination.
“I’ve spent decades honoring the spirit of country, blues, and folk music. Charli XCX is a fine pop artist, but labeling her a country singer is a mockery of the genre’s heritage. I cannot, in good conscience, participate in a ceremony that blatantly disrespects the soul of country music,” wrote Plant.
An Unexpected Nomination Sparks Uproar
Charli XCX, primarily known for her chart-topping synth-pop hits and hyperpop experimentation, recently released “Boots & Bytes,” a genre-blurring project that includes what she has called “cyber-country influences.” The album features steel guitar overlays and AI-generated duets with digital avatars of country legends like Patsy Cline and Hank Williams Sr.
Though some praised the album’s creativity, the Best Female Country Artist nomination stunned many within the industry—none more so than Plant, who has long championed traditional roots and folk sounds.
“There’s artistic freedom, and then there’s industry malpractice,” Plant continued in his statement. “Award shows should recognize and preserve the integrity of the genres they celebrate, not erode them for the sake of novelty and headline buzz.”
Divided Reactions from the Music World
The backlash to Charli XCX’s nomination has been swift, and opinions are sharply divided.
Country purists and veteran artists have largely sided with Plant. British country singer Ward Thomas tweeted, “When genre lines are crossed this carelessly, real country voices get silenced. We stand with Robert.”
Folk-rock singer Laura Marling added on Instagram, “Country is about storytelling, not spectacle. Robert Plant has every right to speak out.”
However, younger artists and pop-leaning musicians have pushed back. Dua Lipa responded on Threads: “Genres evolve. What’s happening is an expansion, not erasure.” Charli XCX herself has not commented directly but posted a cryptic photo on Instagram of a cowboy hat covered in rhinestones, captioned: “Yeehaw ”
A Storied History of Genre Exploration
Robert Plant’s frustration is rooted in his own long journey through music that’s spanned rock, blues, and country. Since his Zeppelin days, he’s collaborated with artists like Alison Krauss on Grammy-winning Americana and country-influenced albums. His 2007 collaboration “Raising Sand” is widely credited with reviving global interest in traditional American music.
In the same letter, Plant referenced artists like Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, and June Carter as paragons of the genre, suggesting that honoring country’s legacy means elevating its genuine practitioners—“not performers dressing it up as a fashion aesthetic or algorithmic experiment.”
British Music Awards Respond
The British Music Awards committee responded late Saturday afternoon with a brief press release:
“The BMAs strive to reflect the full diversity of today’s musical landscape. Charli XCX’s work on Boots & Bytes was reviewed by a genre panel and deemed eligible for nomination. We regret Robert Plant’s decision, but we respect his voice and lifelong contribution to music.”
The committee’s response has done little to stem the growing controversy, with hashtags like #BoycottBMAs, #StandWithPlant, and #CountryNotCostume trending across UK and US social media.
Plant’s Absence Looms Large
Plant was expected to receive a Lifetime Contribution to Music award at this year’s ceremony, as well as perform a medley of British folk classics alongside fellow legends Richard Thompson and Sandy Denny’s daughter, Georgia Denny.
Those plans are now off the table.
“My absence will be quiet but deliberate,” Plant wrote. “I love music too much to see it distorted in silence.”
The Bigger Conversation
This latest dispute marks a broader and increasingly fraught conversation about how award bodies are adapting—or failing to adapt—to genre fluidity in the streaming era. With pop, country, and hip-hop increasingly blending, questions of authenticity, representation, and commercialization continue to spark passionate debate.
Whether Charli XCX will ultimately win in her controversial category remains to be seen. But with Robert Plant’s principled stand sending ripples through the industry, this year’s British Music Awards are already shaping up to be one of the most contentious in recent memory.
The 2025 British Music Awards are scheduled to take place on July 19th at London’s O2 Arena. With or without Robert Plant, the world will be watching.
