Just like the CMAs (Country Music Association Awards) before it, the 2025 ACMs (Academy of Country Music Awards) left Beyonce fans – affectionately called the #Beyhive – stunned with its snub of her last album ‘Cowboy Carter.’

The groundbreaking LP, which nabbed the Best Country Duo/Group Performance and Best Country Album trophies at this year’s GRAMMYs just last month, was completely absent from the ACMs’ 2025 nominations roster revealed on Thursday (March 27).

And while the Academy’s CEO Damon Whiteside says the zero nods for ‘Carter’ came as a surprise to him as well, he believes he knows why the Queen Bey was royally snubbed.

Chatting it up with Billboard, Whiteside says he was hoping Bey’s ‘Carter’ would be nominated but the Academy voters apparently didn’t agree.

“Were we hoping she’d be nominated? Absolutely,” Damon said. “We love that Beyoncé is in the country genre. That’s fantastic for all the country artists out there. It’s fantastic for the fans. The more successful she is, the more we’re bringing more mainstream people into the genre which we want.”

And though the music megastar will not be invited for the chance to compete for an award, she has an “open invitation” to grace its stage with a performance.

“I think, more likely, they’re going to be voting for artists that they’ve got relationships with and work with on a regular basis and that are in the country music business 365,” the ACM CEO said before adding, “We’d love to have Beyoncé on the show. She has an open invitation to be on the ACM stage anytime she ever wants to.”

His sentiment echoes a controversial take that landed Country superstar Luke Bryan in hot water, a stance that suggests Bey’s distance from Nashville is what keeps her work from being recognized by local industry insiders.

“[She should] come into our world and be country with us a little bit,” he stated. “…come to an awards show and high-five us and have fun and get in the family too…Country music’s a lot about family.”

The Reba McEntire-hosted ACMs will air live on May 8 at 8 pm EST. See the full list of 2025 nominees here.

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