LIST: 12 Country Stars Who Were Noticeably Absent From The ACM Awards
on May 09, 2025
The 60th ACM Awards took place Thursday night (May 8), and some of country music’s biggest stars were not in attendance.
This year’s ACM Awards was hosted by Reba McEntire and took place at The Star in Frisco, Texas. It was a milestone year for the Academy of Country Music as they celebrated their 60th awards show!
The live televised event honored some of today’s biggest stars while taking a trip down memory lane to remember those who paved the way. While there was plenty of talk about who won and who performed, it didn’t go unnoticed that many stars didn’t attend.
Among those who skipped the celebration were some of this year’s nominees as well as past winners who fans thought would make an appearance for the milestone event.
See our list of country stars who skipped this year’s ACM Awards below.
Morgan Wallen
Morgan Wallen had seven ACM Award nominations this year, including the night’s biggest awards: Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year. Despite being one of this year’s most-nominated artists, Wallen chose to sit out the show. But, he had a pretty good reason.
Just before the ACMs kicked off, Morgan shared a photo to social media of himself hanging out with football great, Tom Brady. The pic showed Brady throwing a football to Wallen on a golf course with a caption that read, “had a little mustard on it.”
Jennifer Nettles
Jennifer Nettles was scheduled to perform and present alongside her Sugarland partner, Kristian Bush, but she didn’t show up. When Bush took the stage to announce this year’s Duo of the Year winner, he told the crowd that Jennifer had woken up sick and couldn’t attend.
Little Big Town stepped in at the last minute to replace Sugarland in the show’s opening medley.
Luke Combs
Luke Combs was nominated for three awards this year, including two of the night’s biggest awards: Entertainer of the Year and Male Artist of the Year. Combs won the Single of the Year trophy last year with his remake of Tracy Chapman’s “Fast Car.” Despite receiving several nominations, Combs opted to skip the live show, though no reason was given why.
RELATED: WHO WON 2025 ACM ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR?
Shania Twain
Shania Twain shared a throwback video and revealed that she had a great excuse for missing this year’s event.
“Sad to miss the #ACM60 awards tonight, BUT I’m in the studio writing, so I have a good excuse 😇”
Twain was named ACM Entertainer of the Year in 1999, making her only the 5th woman, at the time, to have earned the honor. Loretta Lynn, Dolly Parton, Barbara Mandrell, and Reba McEntire took home the coveted trophy before her.
Gabby Barrett’s husband, Cade Foehner
Gabby Barrett is rarely seen without her husband Cade Foehner by her side. Foehner, whom Gabby Barrett met when they both competed on American Idol, serves as Gabby’s guitarist and background vocalist. But he did not attend Thursday’s ACM Awards with his wife. Gabby explained that he skipped the event because he is graduating from college on Friday.
“My husband’s not here tonight, which I wish he was, but he’s actually in California because he’s graduating from college tomorrow, so I’ve got to fly out right as soon as I’m done with this tomorrow morning,” the singer told PEOPLE.
Carrie Underwood
Carrie Underwood keeps a full schedule nowadays. Between being a mom to two little boys and judging American Idol Season 23, the 3-time ACM Entertainer of the Year likely couldn’t squeeze another event into her full calendar.
Underwood chose to sit out the 2025 ACM Awards despite having earned two nominations this year for “I’m Gonna Love You,” a duet with Cody Johnson.
Post Malone
Post Malone earned his first ACM Award nominations this year in four different categories. Three of the nods were for “I Had Some Help,” his collaboration with Morgan Wallen. The fourth was an Album of the Year nomination for his solo project, F-1 Trillion.
It’s unclear why Post didn’t attend the awards show. The singer had a tour stop in San Antonio, Texas, on Wednesday and another in Arlington, Texas, near the site of the ACM Awards, on Friday.
Lauren Alaina
Lauren Alaina, the 2017 ACM New Female Vocalist of the Year arguably had the best reason for not attending the ACM Awards … She’s awaiting the arrival of her first child who is due at the end of the month! Alaina didn’t receive any nominations this year, but is often seen at events in support of her friends and country music family.
RELATED: LAUREN ALAINA SHARES PHOTOS FROM HER COWBOY-THEMED BABY SHOWER
Alaina posted to social media during the show and confessed that she was dealing with some “fomo.”
“[I’m] watching the ACM Awards and can’t help feeling fomo, but then I remember I’m at home growing my daughter. I can’t wait for her to meet my country music family,” Lauren wrote.
Jason Aldean
Jason Aldean has won 15 ACM Awards over the course of his career, including 3 Entertainer of the Year trophies and a rare Artist of the Decade honor. While Aldean didn’t receive any nominations this year, he was one of several artists that fans expected to see at the milestone celebration. His absence could be due to the upcoming kickoff of his Full Throttle Tour that is set to launch in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, on May 23.
Luke Bryan
Much like Carrie Underwood, Luke Bryan’s American Idol schedule likely kept him from attending the ACM Awards. The 3-time ACM Entertainer of the Year and 5-time host of the awards ceremony didn’t receive any nominations this year, but fans hoped he would make an appearance in honor of the 60th anniversary of the show.
Garth Brooks & Trisha Yearwood
Husband-wife team, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood were a no-show at this year’s ACM Awards. With two dozen ACM Awards between them, including Garth’s record-setting 6 Entertainer of the Year wins, Garth and Trisha often attend country music events in support of their fellow artists. Their absence this year was likely due to Trisha’s current solo tour.
Trish Yearwood is also celebrating the upcoming release of her first new album in six years. The Mirror is the first project Trisha has co-produced and contributed to as a writer on every track. The album will be released on July 18.
