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Shaboozey took home the Best Country Duo/Group Performance award for his song “Amen” with Jelly Roll
Shaboozey addressed backlash to his acceptance speech at the 2026 Grammys.
After the country star, whose real name is Collins Chibueze, took home his first-ever Grammy Award for Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “Amen” with Jelly Roll on Sunday, Feb. 1, he delivered an emotional speech that received backlash for a remark about how “immigrants built this country.”
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Shaboozey broke his silence on the criticism surrounding his acceptance speech in an open letter on X.
“I want to be clear and unequivocal: Foundational Black Americans built this country. Period,” he wrote. “My words were not meant to erase, diminish, or overlook that truth, and I sincerely apologize for how they came across. That history, sacrifice, and resilience are undeniable, and I should have been more intentional in honoring that in my moment on stage.”
Shaboozey also noted that he is the first Black winner in the Best Country Duo/Group category, which is “not just my achievement — it is a continuation of Black history. It stands on the shoulders of those who fought, created, and paved the way long before me.”
“This moment belongs to all of us,” he added.
Shaboozey then noted how his entire career “has been rooted in lifting people up, honoring where we come from, and expanding what’s possible.”
“I am proud to be a part of this legacy, and I intend to continue doing that work for the rest of my life,” he concluded.
At the 2026 Grammys on Feb. 1, Shaboozey, who was born and raised in Virginia to Nigerian parents who immigrated to America, gave an emotional speech that ignited conversation.
He tearfully thanked his mother who “worked three to four jobs just to provide for me and my four siblings as an immigrant in this country,” before speaking more broadly.
“Immigrants built this country, literally. So this is for them,” the “My Fault” singer said as he accepted the award. “For all children of immigrants, this is also for those who came to this country in search of better opportunities, to be part of a nation that promised freedom for all and equal opportunity to everyone willing to work for it.”
He continued, “Thank you for bringing your culture, your music, your stories and your traditions. You give America color, I love y’all so much. Thank you.”
While speaking with reporters in the press room following the ceremony on Feb. 1, he opened up about winning his first-ever gramophone.
“I’m a child of immigrants,” he said. “My parents were born in Nigeria and came here. And my dad, I know the things he sacrificed to be here, and my mother as well.”
He also became emotional as he spoke with reporters in the press room after the ceremony on Feb. 1.
Rich Polk/Billboard via Getty
“I’m a child of immigrants,” said Shaboozey at the time. “My parents were born in Nigeria and came here. And my dad, I know the things he sacrificed to be here, and my mother as well.”
He then noted that he wants to “live up to my full potential.”
“I’ve had so many dreams of being able to do something like this,” said Shaboozey. “I’m from a small town in Virginia. I wasn’t the most talented kid in any respect, but I just had dreams.”
He continued, “I was a dreamer, and this is just a representation of one of my dreams.”
Shaboozey dropped his most recent album Where I’ve Been, Isn’t Where I’m Going in 2024. The record features the hit single “A Bar Song (Tipsy)”, which was nominated for Song of the Year, Best Country Song and Best Country Solo Performance at the 2025 Grammys.
In May 2025, Shaboozey reflected on his genre-defying album to PEOPLE.
“There was always this need in me to create the music I’m making now, but I love so many other types of music,” he said at the time.
Shaboozey added, “It always felt like I was running from this a little bit, chasing something, and I stopped doing that with the music I’m doing now. It feels like I’m right at home, honestly.”
