Beyoncé Snubbed by ACM Awards—CEO Explains Why

Beyoncé Snubbed by ACM Awards—CEO Explains Why

Despite winning Best Country Album at the Grammys, Beyoncé’s Cowboy Carter was completely shut out of the Academy of Country Music Awards (ACMs)—leaving fans and industry insiders questioning why.

On Thursday, the ACM nominations were announced, and Beyoncé’s critically acclaimed country album was nowhere on the list. This marks the second major country music snub for Cowboy Carter, following last year’s CMA Awards, where she also received no recognition.

Instead, familiar country stars dominated the nominations, including Cody Johnson, Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Riley Green, and even Post Malone, with newcomer Ella Langley leading the pack with eight nominations.

ACM CEO Reacts to Beyoncé’s Absence

Following the announcement, ACM CEO Damon Whiteside addressed the situation in an interview with Billboard, admitting that while the ACMs were hoping to see Beyoncé nominated, the decision ultimately came down to the voting process.

“Were we hoping she’d be nominated? Absolutely. We love that Beyoncé is in the country genre,” Whiteside said. “That’s fantastic for country artists and fans alike. The more successful she is, the more mainstream listeners we bring into country music—which is something we want.”

He also pointed out a key difference between the Grammys and the ACMs—while Grammy voters come from various music genres, ACM voters are mainly industry professionals who work within the country music space year-round.

“I think, more likely, they’re going to vote for artists they have relationships with and work with regularly,” he explained. “Artists who are part of the country music business 365 days a year.”

Despite the snub, Whiteside made it clear that Beyoncé is welcome anytime. “We’d love to have her on the show. She has an open invitation to perform on the ACM stage whenever she wants.”

Beyoncé’s Historic Grammy Wins

While the ACMs may have overlooked Cowboy Carter, the Grammys recognized Beyoncé’s impact on country music. She took home two major awards:

• Best Country Duo/Group Performance for “II Most Wanted” with Miley Cyrus

• Best Country Album for Cowboy Carter, making history as the first Black woman to win in the category

She also won Album of the Year, a milestone achievement after multiple nominations in the past.

During her acceptance speech, Beyoncé addressed the challenges of crossing genres:

“I think sometimes ‘genre’ is just a code word to keep us in our place as artists,” she said. “I just want to encourage people to follow their passions and stay persistent.”

With or without the ACMs, Beyoncé’s mark on country music is undeniable.