Kelly Clarkson reacts to Beyoncé's rejection by the CMA

Kelly Clarkson was surprised but not shocked when she heard that Beyoncé’s album Cowboy Carter was not nominated in any category at the upcoming CMA Awards.

“I find it kind of fascinating because I feel like these songs are everywhere,” the singer and talk show host said in an interview with NBC10 Boston on Thursday.

EW has reached out to a representative for Carter and the Country Music Association.

Although there were no nominations, Cowboy Carter was commercially successful. The lead single “Texas Hold 'Em” reached No. 1 on Billboard's Hot Country Songs chart and was hyped by Bey's loyal fans, breaking streaming records. The album included country great Dolly Parton, who covered her hit “Jolene” and tracks with other black artists in the genre.

“At the end of the day, what I've always learned in this industry is that it's not necessarily about the awards, and it's not necessarily about any of them,” Clarkson said. “But it's just that people come, right? You're huge.”

The “Since U Been Gone” singer said that in her own experience, the country music genre is difficult to crack.

“I was told at a lunch that if I didn't stop doing pop music and just do country, I wouldn't be played anymore,” Clarkson said. “That was literally said to my face at a lunch and I thought, 'Okay, I mean, no offense, but I'm never going to pick just one.'”

Clarkson said it was “very hard” for her.

“I grew up listening to country music,” Clarkson said. “I imagine Beyoncé did the same. We're both Texans, so you can't escape it when you grow up there.”

Like the “Kellyoke” segments on their Kelly Clarkson ShowClarkson said her concerts are a mix of different genres and the audience seems to like that.

Register for Weekly entertainmentSubscribe to 's free daily newsletter with breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars and more.

The masses “like to hear country stuff. They like to hear pop. They like to hear all the different things.” [I’m] sure that this is also the case with her.”

She added: “I think the real benefit is that you don't even need the award.”