Beyoncé has been notably absent from the nominations list for the 2025 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards, despite her Grammy-winning success in the country genre. On Thursday, March 27, 2025, the ACM Awards nominations were announced, with up-and-coming artist Ella Langley leading the pack. Meanwhile, the “CUFF IT” singer and country music star was conspicuously left off the ballot.
This snub comes on the heels of Beyoncé’s groundbreaking achievement at the 2025 Grammy Awards, where she won accolades in multiple country music categories. Her collaboration with Miley Cyrus, “II Most Wanted,” earned Beyoncé the Grammy for Best Country Album, alongside honors for Album of the Year, Best Country Duo/Group Performance, and Country Album of the Year.
However, the exclusion from the ACM Awards nomination list signals a deeper divide within the country music industry, a divide that has continued to surface over the past few months. In September 2024, Beyoncé also failed to make the cut for the Country Music Association (CMA) Awards, despite the massive success of her country collaborations.
The announcement has raised eyebrows and sparked debates within the entertainment industry. After the news broke, several prominent figures, including country artists and celebrities from other genres, voiced their surprise and disappointment at the decision.
Kelly Clarkson, who has long navigated the challenges of blending pop and country music, expressed her thoughts on the matter during an interview with NBC10 Boston. “I kind of find it fascinating,” said Clarkson, who herself has faced resistance in the country music industry. “Those songs were everywhere, and to see Beyoncé left out of the ACM nominations is perplexing.” Clarkson added that, despite her extensive career in music, she too was once told by industry insiders to “pick one genre” and abandon pop music if she ever wanted to succeed in country.
Clarkson’s comments reflect the broader industry trend of genre gatekeeping that has affected artists like Beyoncé, whose blending of genres challenges traditional norms. “That’s a hard industry, even for me,” Clarkson noted. “I was literally told that to my face at a lunch, and I was like, ‘Okay, no offense, but I’m not ever gonna just pick one.’”
Despite the exclusion from the ACM nominations, Beyoncé’s country music contributions are undeniable. Her collaboration with Miley Cyrus on the album “II Most Wanted” received widespread acclaim, with tracks like “Texas Hold ‘Em” reaching the top of both the Billboard 200 and Billboard Hot 100 charts. The album’s success at the Grammy Awards further cemented her place in the country music conversation, showing that her influence has expanded beyond the pop genre.
Beyoncé herself addressed the challenges of being pigeonholed into specific genres during her acceptance speech at the Grammys, after winning Best Country Album for “II Most Wanted.” “I think sometimes genre is a code word to keep us in our place as artists,” she said. “And I just want to encourage people to do this: Stay persistent.” Her remarks reflected her resilience and determination to continue pushing boundaries in her music career, regardless of genre labels.
At the 2025 Grammy Awards, Beyoncé made history as the most-nominated artist of the year with a total of 11 nominations. Her wins at the ceremony were celebrated as a breakthrough moment for her, not only within the country genre but across the entire music industry. Her ability to connect with country music fans through collaborations with artists like Cyrus has earned her respect from those within the genre, even as she faces resistance from certain segments of the country music establishment.
Despite Beyoncé’s success in the country space, the 2025 ACM Awards have chosen to spotlight other artists, with Ella Langley emerging as the leading nominee with eight nods. Morgan Wallen, Lainey Wilson, and Cody Johnson follow closely behind with seven nominations each. Chris Stapleton, Riley Green, and Post Malone are also well-represented, with Stapleton earning six nominations and Green and Malone each securing five.
The ACM Awards will be held in Frisco, Texas, on May 8, 2025, and will be hosted by country legend Reba McEntire. The ceremony promises an exciting lineup of performances from top country artists, including Lainey Wilson, Blake Shelton, and Eric Church. The awards show will stream live on Prime Video, and fans can purchase limited tickets to the event through SeatGeek.
While Beyoncé remains absent from the ACM Awards nominations this year, her continued success in the country music scene, as well as her Grammy wins, show that her influence in the genre cannot be ignored. It is clear that Beyoncé’s groundbreaking work in country music has made a lasting impact, even if she is not currently being recognized by every corner of the industry. As the ACM Awards approach, the conversation surrounding genre boundaries and artist recognition is sure to continue.
In the meantime, Beyoncé remains a force to be reckoned with, whether in the country music sphere or beyond, as she continues to redefine what it means to be a genre-defying artist in the modern music landscape.
