Before Shaboozey’s hit “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” climbed the charts, he was already making waves with his feature on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album Cowboy Carter. The country artist, whose real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze, joined an impressive lineup, including Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, and Post Malone, on the album’s standout track “Spaghettii.”
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the 29-year-old musician revealed the key piece of advice Beyoncé gave him during the recording process.
During the recording of Cowboy Carter, Shaboozey admits he initially struggled with self-doubt. “I kept thinking, ‘I can’t do these runs,’ or ‘I’m nowhere near the vocalist or performer Beyoncé is,'” he recalled in a Zoom interview from Los Angeles.
But Beyoncé had a reassuring message for him: “They told me, ‘We brought you here for you to do you, for you to be yourself.'”
That advice became Shaboozey’s most valuable takeaway from the experience: “Just be yourself,” he says. “Be confident in the fact that you are different, you are unique, and that’s what people are going to resonate with.”
Shaboozey, who has been releasing music for over a decade, also shared how early country influences shaped his career. “Johnny Cash resonated with me early on,” he says. “Marty Robbins too. His voice was so sweet and distinct. I loved him. Later, I saw the connection between country storytelling and hip-hop.”
The Virginia native also named Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan, and The Rolling Stones as significant inspirations for his music.
Shaboozey’s “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” made history by hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and topping the Hot 100 for 19 weeks in 2024. This success broke records, surpassing Lil Nas X’s “Old Town Road.”
The musician’s rising star continued to shine with five nominations at the 2025 Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year, Best New Artist, and Best Country Solo Performance.
Reflecting on his Grammy nominations, Shaboozey recalls, “I was on tour with Jelly Roll when I found out. To have two people on the same tour nominated—it was a really awesome moment.”
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