Why is Grammy winner Beyoncé absent from ACMs? 'Cowboy Carter' awards snub explained
Despite a full-blown 2024 "Cowboy Carter" revolution, complete with chart-topping hits, Beyoncé's genre-bending masterpiece was left out in the cold when the Academy of Country Music nominations dropped on March 27. The ceremony is set for May 8 at The Star in Frisco.
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'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Elle
an hour ago
- Elle
Beyoncé Effortlessly Recovered From a Slight Wardrobe Mishap During Her London Tour Stop
Beyoncé has taken the Cowboy Carter Tour across the pond. On June 5, the superstar took the stage for her first show in London. (She'll stay there for five more shows until the tour heads to Paris). But while performing the Renaissance opener 'I'm That Girl,' she suffered a slight wardrobe malfunction. In a video posted on TikTok, you can see that Beyoncé's gold chaps fell to the floor while she stomped in unison with her dancers. But like many Virgos, she was the epitome of professionalism and simply slid down to pick them up with a smile and a slight sway of her hips to mimic the choreography. One of her dancers even spotted the mishap and quickly walked over to adjust the chaps so she could continue performing. And that wasn't the only noteworthy moment from the London show. According to fans, she also added her song 'Energy' to the setlist and brought back the famous 'mute challenge.' Beyoncé also shared a sweet moment with her daughter Rumi onstage. The pair sang a few lines of 'Dangerously in Love' to each other before Rumi went in for a big hug and received a forehead kiss. In a recent interview with ELLE UK, Beyoncé's mom, Tina Knowles, shared how happy she is that Rumi gets to experience what it's like to perform. 'She has fun out there,' she said. 'She gets to be a kid, and when she gets off stage, she's right back to being Rumi, the little kid, you know, the little 7-year-old, adorable.' If you're still interested in attending the Cowboy Carter Tour before it wraps on July 26 in Las Vegas, there's still time to get tickets. For more info, click here.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Cowboys Players Rally Around Brian Schottenheimer's 'Brotherhood Energy'
Cowboys Players Rally Around Brian Schottenheimer's 'Brotherhood Energy' originally appeared on Athlon Sports. It might only be early in the Brian Schottenheimer era for the Dallas Cowboys, but his presence is already being felt across the board. Advertisement With a family-oriented approach to his players, he brings a "different vibe" and energy to practice, which is something that the locker room and even past players love. "I think it's huge for the success of this football team," Tyler Smith said of Schottenheimer's approach. "Establishing the culture early and getting everybody on board is ultimately our goal. Schotty talks about it every day, but we're gonna compete everyday. "The ultimate goal is to win the Super Bowl." That's the view from a player who is a Pro Bowler at the very top of the depth chart. What's it look like from a lower rung? 'It's every single day when you come into the building,' running back Deuce Vaughn said of Schottenheimer's energy. 'All the coaches as well, it really energizes us. It makes us really excited to come into the building every single day and put in the work. It really feels good whenever you're able to go out to practice and you're jumping around, listen to music, you're with your guys, and it's really the brotherhood we're trying to build.' Dallas Cowboys offensive coordinator Brian Schottenheimer, quarterback Dak Prescott (4) and running back Deuce Vaughn (42) celebrate a Heitman-Imagn Images Hmm, that word. Brotherhood. Advertisement We had heard about that over the past couple of seasons, but with Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence's social media blowup, it appeared to be all a facade. Maybe now, it isn't. Said team leader Dak Prescott, who speaks on "brotherhood'' more than anybody around here: "(Schottenheimer) is doing a hell of a job'' building a new culture in Dallas. Schottenheimer is doing all the right things to get his players pulling in the same direction. Yes, it is June, but this can't be denied now. The locker room appears bonded, with no one wanting to be "the" player who lets the team down. That's powerful. Too many have spoken glowingly of what Schotty is building both on and off the field to deny what is transpiring. His first crack at a head coaching role has gotten off to a solid start. Advertisement Now, we aren't proclaiming him to be anything yet, but he's got a vision for how he wants his team to act and play. And he's making sure they are all on the same page, with energy and vibes the key to everything the Cowboys will do under Schottenheimer's watch. Related: Cowboys' Micah Parsons Announces Major Three-Word Statement Related: Cowboys' Schottenheimer Won't Shy Away From Super Bowl Prediction This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 4, 2025, where it first appeared.
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Billy Joel's ex-wife Elizabeth Weber speaks out after his brain disorder diagnosis
Billy Joel's first ex-wife, Elizabeth Weber, has broken her silence following the iconic musician's shocking brain disorder diagnosis. The 'Uptown Girl' hitmaker, who was married to Weber from 1973 to 1982, revealed last month that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus. Following the diagnosis, Weber reflected on the pair's ill-fated marriage — saying that she always knew the so-called Piano Man would become a star. 'He's worked so hard all of his life,' Weber told E! News at the Tribeca Festival premiere of 'Billy Joel: And So It Goes' in NYC on Wednesday. 'I've never known anybody who worked harder than he did in all those years we were together and working together.' While the 5-time Grammy winner, 76, wasn't in attendance at the glitzy premiere, his wife Alexis Roderick Joel, 43, was there in his place. 'I just want him to be restored to good health so he can enjoy his life and his wife and his children. He earned that,' Weber said of her ex-husband. 'The restoration of his good health is all I really care about.' Although their union crumbled after just seven years, Weber told the outlet that she still admires his work deeply, to the point where she finds it difficult to choose a favorite track. 'There's too many of them, and they're all marvelous,' she said. 'Someone can be in the audience and look at him and say, 'That could be me.'' 'Not everybody can be an unnamed pianist who sings, but everyone thinks that they could do that or be that,' she added. The 'New York State of Mind' musician canceled all his tour dates through next year after he announced his diagnosis. The rare disorder, which reportedly affects about 0.2% of people between the ages of 70 and 80, occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) builds up inside the skull, presses on the brain and disrupts cognitive functioning. 'Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH),' the 'Only the Good Die Young' crooner's team said in a lengthy Instagram announcement on May 23. 'This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,' it continued. 'Under his doctor's instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.' 'I'm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience,' his team added, 'and thank you for understanding.' Following the news, his wife Alexis broke her silence on the diagnosis, thanking fans for the 'outpouring of love and support.' 'We are so grateful for the wonderful care and swift diagnosis we received,' she wrote on Instagram. 'Bill is beloved by so many, and to us, he is a father and husband who is at the center of our world. We are hopeful for his recovery. We look forward to seeing you all in the future.' Earlier this week, Howard Stern shared a positive update on his longtime pal's well-being. During an episode of SiriusXM's 'The Howard Stern Show' Tuesday, the 71-year-old shock jock insisted that the crooner is 'not dying.' 'I saw Billy Joel two weeks ago,' he told co-host Robin Quivers. 'We had dinner together.' 'Yeah, he does have issues,' Stern continued. 'But he said, 'Yeah, you can tell people, you know, I'm not dying.' You know, he wants people to know that. He just, he's gotta deal with some medical stuff, but he was delightful.'
