Why is Grammy winner Beyoncé absent from ACMs? 'Cowboy Carter' awards snub explained
Did it seem like she might be nominated? Absolutely. After all, Queen Bee (the Grammy's most awarded performer of all time) lassoed the 2025 Grammy for Album of the Year. She took home trophies for Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Album. She made history as the first Black woman to win the latter category. She was also nominated for Country Song, Country Solo Performance and Americana Performance.
For those not steeped in the world of country music, the Academy of Country Music Awards, or ACMs, are one of the biggest nights in the genre. They honor the top talent in country music. This year will be the 60th anniversary ceremony for the ACMs. Since 2023, the awards have called the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, Texas – the Dallas Cowboys' practice facility – home. However, with a three-year contract expiring this year, the future location of the ceremony is uncertain.
While the Grammys voter pool is like a musical melting pot, with voters from every genre under the sun, the ACMs are country-centric. We're talking 5,000 plus voters, most of whom are knee-deep in the country music biz, living and breathing that Nashville air.
Ella Langley leads the pack with eight nominations. Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson and Cody Johnson snagged seven nominations apiece.
And speaking of shining (Lone) stars, Austin's very own Moody Center snagged a nomination for Arena of the Year. Following their win in 2023, they're back for another round. Keeping the Austin area love strong, Georgetown's Two Step Inn has also been nominated for Festival of the Year.
And for the third go round in her home state, the Queen was left with… crickets.
In a candid Instagram post last year, Beyoncé shared that the inspiration behind 'Cowboy Carter' arose from a time when she felt unwelcome in the country music scene. She channeled her Texas roots, explored the rich history of Black contribution to country music and dropped an album that shook the genre to its core.
The insular nature of an industry oft-criticized for a lack of diversity seems reflected in a roster of ACM Awards nominations that excluded one of the biggest country music phenomena of 2024. ACM CEO Damon Whiteside explained the Beyoncé nomination snub to Billboard, saying that ACM voters likely opted for artists "that they've got relationships with and work with on a regular basis and that are in the country music business 365."
In recent years, the Academy of Country music has expanded DEI efforts, saying they stand as a "progressive, welcoming organization for all, including an active, community-leading commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion stretching across all facets of the industry."
In top line ACM Award categories like Entertainer of the Year, Female or Male Artist of the Year, Album of the Year or Song of the Year, there are no people of color nominated this year. Beyoncé collaborator Shaboozey is up for Single of the Year for "A Bar Song (Tipsy)."
Whiteside, who said he loves that Beyoncé is in the country music genre, extended an "open invitation" for Beyoncé to grace their stage. "We'd love to have Beyoncé on the show," he told Billboard "She has an open invitation to be on the ACM stage anytime she ever wants to."
The invitation to one of the most in-demand performers on the planet is likely cold comfort to fans who think this is about respect. Beyoncé, in her signature style, lets her music speak for itself. While industry insiders untangle mixed messages, she rewrites the rulebook.
If you're looking to catch the 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards at the Ford Center at The Star in Frisco, look no further.
You can buy tickets for the ceremony on SeatGeek. Prices start at $186. If you can't make it to the in-person ceremony, you can stream the show live on Prime Video at 7 p.m. CT.
The show will be hosted by Reba McEntire and will feature performances from artists like Blake Shelton, Eric Church, and Lainey Wilson. More performers will be announced in the coming weeks.
Representatives from the Academy of Country Music declined to comment for this report.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Why ACM awards in Texas won't recognize Beyoncé's 'Cowboy Carter'
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