C MY NAME

Country star hails Beyonce's influence

- BY JAMES CABOOTER

MERCURY Prize favourite CMAT has hailed pop superstar Beyonce for putting country music back in the mainstream.

The Irish star, whose Euro-Country album is 2/1 with bookies to scoop the prestigious gong in Newcastle tonight, says Bey is a hero for opening the door for different kinds of country music on a very conservative scene.

CMAT, real name Ciara Mary-Alice Thompson, explained: “Beyonce winning a Grammy [this year] for it is particularly interesting, and I think is a really good sign of how she's opening it up to so many other people.

“Because this is a woman who got it really badly in the neck from the Country Music establishment in 2016 when she brought the Dixie Chicks out - or The Chicks out - at the Country Music Awards.