If your response to Billboard’s feature on the controversy surrounding Kacey Musgraves’ “Follow Your Arrow” was one of laughter, given that same-sex romances and marijuana use are far from taboo in 2013, Wednesday’s CMA Awards broadcast likely provided a rude awakening.
Musgraves’ unique, candid songwriting style was enough to earn her several key award nominations, but when it came time for her anticipated performance, ABC followed the arrow to the censorship button.
Following in the footsteps of some country radio station, the CMA Awards broadcaster muted the line “roll up a joint…or don’t” each time it came up during the “Follow Your Arrow” chorus.
Proving that its concern was more about a tolerant approach to drug use than the concept itself, ABC did not censor the line “If you lose too much [weight] then you’re on crack” from the first verse. It also left the line “kiss lots of boys, or kiss lots of girls…if that’s something you’re into,” the country song’s much-discussed allusion to same-sex love, intact.
Tied with Taylor Swift for a ceremony-best six CMA Award nominations, Musgraves’ sole victory came in the Best New Artist category. Not following the public relations protocol of showing excitement over her losses, Musgraves drew social media attention for looking visibly upset when Miranda Lambert beat her for the Best Female Vocalist prize.
