“That isn’t real country”

I may be unaware, but every time I hear a modern country song someone country always says “that’s not real country.” It’s pretty much every country person I know. I recently had an argument with someone about the new Beyoncé song, (which I dislike) and they said it wasn’t real country. Their exact words were “It isn’t even real country, if you listen to that and Waylon Jennings they sound nothing alike.” I argued back saying that not everyone in a genre has to sound the same. 2Pac and Playboi Carti both make rap music and they don’t sound similar, but you wouldn’t say one them isn’t real hip hop. Nirvana and the Beatles both made rock music and they don’t sound similar, but you wouldn’t say one of them isn’t rock. I could keep going with examples but my main question is: Why do country fans always say “that isn’t real country”?

Do y’all hate the pop crossovers? Do you not like experimentation? Or am I missing something important? I’m not a country fan myself, I really only listen to Waylon Jennings, Zach Bryan, and Johnny Cash; so I am open to any answers.