In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the five-time Grammy nominee also opens up about the first country star he ever loved

Beyoncé and Shaboozey in December 2024. Photo: Greg Noire

Before Shaboozey had a hit on his hands with “A Bar Song (Tipsy),” he had a prominent feature on Beyoncé’s Grammy-winning album Cowboy Carter.

The country star, whose real name is Collins Obinna Chibueze, was featured on the country-funk number “Spaghettii” with Linda Martell, alongside Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Miley Cyrus, Post Malone, Rhiannon Giddens, Tanner Adell, Willie Jones. Brittney Spencer, Tiera Kennedy and Reyna Roberts, who also appeared on the LP.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Shaboozey, 29, reveals the one piece of advice the 35-time Grammy winner, 43, gave him while working on Cowboy Carter.

Beyoncé and Shaboozey in December 2024.Greg Noire

“When I was recording the songs on her album, [I was like], ‘Oh man, I can’t do these runs’ or ‘I am nowhere near the vocalist, performer or anything Beyoncé is.’ And I kind of got in my head about that,” he says over Zoom from Los Angeles.

Shaboozey continues: “What they told me was, ‘Hey, we brought you here for you to do you, for you to be yourself.’”

The No. 1 lesson he took Queen Bey? “Just be yourself.”

Adds Shaboozey: “Just be confident in the fact that you are different, you are unique and that’s what people are going to resonate with.”

The “Anabelle” musician, who first began releasing music 11 years ago, also opened up about the first country stars he loved.

“I would say Johnny Cash was some[one] that resonated with me very early on,” says Shaboozey. “Marty Robbins, too. I loved [him]. His voice was just so sweet and distinct.

Marty was really cool, especially in my later years and seeing the parallels between country music, storytelling, country music and hip-hop.”

But the Virginia native also cited Waylon Jennings, Bob Dylan and The Rolling Stones as artists that inspired him.

Shaboozey in Detroit in November 2024.Scott Legato/Getty

Shaboozey’s song “A Bar Song (Tipsy)” hit No. 1 on the Billboard’s Hot Country Songs chart and spent 19 weeks topping the Hot 100 with his 2024 country hip-hop smash “A Bar Song (Tipsy).”

He ended up surpassing the Hot 100 record set by Lil Nas X’s 2018 country hip-hop hit “Old Town Road.”

Shaboozey received five nominations at the 2025 Grammy Awards, including song of the year, best new artist and best country solo performance.

While speaking with PEOPLE, he recalls where he was when he discovered he was nominated at this year’s Grammys.

“I was on tour with Jelly Roll,” says Shaboozey. “To have two people on the same tour nominated and just share a moment like that was really awesome.”