The 2025 Academy of Country Music Awards nominations were announced recently, and one notable absence from the list was Beyoncé. Despite her critically acclaimed country-inspired album “Cowboy Carter” winning two Grammys, including Album of the Year and Best Country Album, Beyoncé did not receive any nominations for the ACM Awards.
ACM CEO Damon Whiteside addressed Beyoncé’s snub in a recent statement, explaining that the voting members likely chose artists they have relationships with and who are actively involved in the country music business throughout the year.
“Our voting members are made up of industry professionals who have a deep understanding of country music,” Whiteside said. “While Beyoncé’s album was certainly eligible, our voters tend to recognize artists who have been working within the country genre for a longer period.”
Whiteside acknowledged that while Beyoncé’s snub might be disappointing, he’s open to having her perform at the awards show. He extended an invitation for her to appear on the ACM stage anytime she wants.
“We would love to have Beyoncé perform at the ACM Awards in the future,” Whiteside said. “We recognize the impact she’s had on country music with ‘Cowboy Carter,’ and we appreciate her willingness to experiment with the genre.”
Luke Bryan, a country music superstar and ACM Award winner, also shared his thoughts on Beyoncé’s country music venture. While he praised her album, he suggested that she hasn’t fully immersed herself in the country music culture like other crossover artists.
“Beyoncé’s album was well-received, but I think she’s still got to prove herself in the country music world,” Bryan said. “She’s got to get out there and tour with some country artists, collaborate with some country songwriters… that’s how you build relationships and earn respect in this genre.”
The 2025 ACM Awards will take place on May 8, 2025, at the Ford Centre at The Star in Frisco, Texas, and will be live-streamed on Amazon Prime Video. The ceremony will feature performances from some of country music’s biggest stars, including Luke Bryan, Kelsea Ballerini, and Chris Stapleton.
Despite Beyoncé’s snub, her album “Cowboy Carter” remains a critically acclaimed and commercially successful album. The album’s lead single, “Texas Hold ‘Em,” debuted at number one on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, making Beyoncé the first Black woman to reach number one on that chart.
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