Beyoncé just won Album of the Year at the 2025 Grammys, but the Academy of Country Music Awards looked at that and said, “Yeah, no thanks.”
That’s right—Queen Bey was completely shut out of the ACM Awards, proving once again that country music gatekeeping is alive, well, and wearing a bedazzled cowboy hat.
Despite her country-infused album Cowboy Carter riding into town with chart-smashing hits like “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages,” the ACMs acted like she showed up to the rodeo with a pet llama instead of a horse. They didn’t just ignore her—they straight-up ghosted her.
And it’s not the first time! The CMA Awards also snubbed Beyoncé last fall, making it clear that the country music powers-that-be are about as welcoming as a saloon door that only swings shut in your face.
Even Beyoncé’s dad, Mathew Knowles, seemed unsurprised by the snub. Probably because he knows by now that when Beyoncé tries something new, people either roll out the red carpet or slam the barn door shut.
At this point, we just need Beyoncé to announce a full country tour, headline every major festival, and force the industry to take notes. Maybe then the ACMs will stop pretending she accidentally wandered onto their turf and start handing over some awards.
Until then, Beyoncé will be busy winning literally every other award on the planet while country music plays hard to get.
