Beyoncé Faces Another Snub at ACM Awards Despite Grammy Success
In a surprising turn of events, Beyoncé has once again been overlooked by a major country music awards program, despite receiving accolades for her acclaimed album Cowboy Carter. This year at the 2025 Grammy Awards, she secured the prestigious Album of the Year and Best Country Album awards, solidifying her place in country music history.
The 2025 ACM Awards Nominations
The Academy of Country Music unveiled its 2025 award nominations on Thursday, and once again, Beyoncé’s name was conspicuously absent. This marks a repeat occurrence, as she was also excluded from the 2024 CMA Awards nominations. In 2024, Cowboy Carter emerged as one of the standout country albums, and her Grammy wins further attest to its impact.
Grammy Recognition
Beyoncé’s Grammy triumphs have added to her record as the most-awarded artist in Grammy history. She made history at the 2025 ceremony, becoming the first Black woman to win the Best Country Album award for Cowboy Carter. The album produced several chart-topping singles, including “Texas Hold ‘Em,””Levii’s Jeans”(featuring Post Malone), “16 Carriages,”and “II MOST WANTED”(featuring Miley Cyrus), with the latter also earning Best Country Duo/Group Performance.
This Year’s ACM Awards Nominees
The nominees for Album of the Year at the ACM Awards include notable works such as Megan Moroney’s Am I Okay? (I’ll Be Fine), Jelly Roll’s Beautifully Broken, Zach Top’s Cold Beer & Country Music, Post Malone’s F-1 Trillion, and Lainey Wilson’s Whirlwind. For Female Artist of the Year, the nominees are Moroney, Wilson, Kelsea Ballerini, Ella Langley, and Kacey Musgraves.
ACM’s Response to Beyoncé’s Snub
ACM CEO Damon Whiteside addressed the absence of Beyoncé in a recent interview with Billboard. He expressed the organization’s hope for her nomination, stating, “We love that Beyoncé is in the country genre.”Whiteside extended an open invitation for her to perform at the ACM stage anytime she wishes.
Industry Perspectives on Beyoncé’s Country Journey
Critics have speculated that Beyoncé’s absence from country music awards is due to her limited presence in the genre, pointing out that her musical catalog has predominantly been in pop and R&B. This contrasts with the case of Post Malone, who garnered several nominations for his country debut F-1 Trillion.
In reflecting on the maybe-lack of recognition, country star Luke Bryan previously commented on the situation, suggesting that to immerse herself fully in the country world, Beyoncé should engage more deeply with the industry. “Everybody loved that Beyoncé made a country album,” he explained, “But if you’re gonna make country albums, come into our world and be country with us a little bit.” Bryan later emphasized that his comments were not intended to be negative, expressing his respect for Beyoncé and her dedicated fanbase.
Mixed Reactions from Peers
Kelly Clarkson has also voiced her puzzlement regarding Beyoncé’s snubs, highlighting that her music has had significant airplay. “Those songs were everywhere,” she remarked in an interview, indicating widespread recognition of Beyoncé’s contributions to country music.
The Making of Cowboy Carter
Before the release of Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé shared insights about her journey into country music, revealing that the album was born from over five years of work. She candidly mentioned feeling unwelcome in the country genre after facing criticism in earlier attempts to enter the field. “I wasn’t welcomed,” she addressed in a past Instagram post, underscoring the challenges she faced.
Despite these hurdles, Beyoncé stated that her experience pushed her to explore the historical roots of country music more deeply and challenged herself creatively. “This genre forced me to propel past the limitations that were put on me,”she wrote. “Act II is a result of challenging myself and taking my time to blend genres together.”
Acknowledgment of the ACM Awards Production
The ACM Awards are produced under Dick Clark Productions, which is owned by Penske Media Eldridge, a collaboration between Penske Media Corporation and Eldridge, and also owns The Hollywood Reporter.
For additional details, you can check the Hollywood Reporter.