Country music sensation Megan Moroney has announced that she will not attend the 2026 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards in person, despite being the leading nominee at the event. The 28-year-old artist, who is set to receive nine nominations, shared her situation through an Instagram Stories post on May 17, indicating she is currently abroad, fulfilling her duties as maid of honour at her best friend Natalie King’s wedding.
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In her online update, Moroney expressed her appreciation for the nominations while cheering on her fellow artists from afar. “I’m so honoured to be nominated tonight,” she wrote. “I’m rooting on all my friends from afar! I’m out of the country this week on [maid of honour] duty to get my bestie married.” She illustrated her post with a photograph of herself and King clad in wedding-themed sweatsuits. Moroney also looked forward to connecting with her fans at the upcoming opening night of her “Cloud 9 Tour” on May 29, stating, “I 🩷you guys & can’t wait to see y’all in Columbus! Counting down the days :)”
This year, the country star’s nominations include the highly coveted Entertainer of the Year category, where she finds herself in competition with heavyweights such as Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Morgan Wallen. Moroney’s considerable accolades reflect a successful year, having released her chart-topping album “Cloud 9” earlier in 2026.
Moroney’s rise to fame follows the impactful release of her sophomore album “Am I Okay?” in 2024, which featured the hit single of the same name. The following year brought “6 Months Later,” another fan favourite. February saw the launch of “Cloud 9,” which marked a career milestone as Moroney’s first No. 1 album on the Billboard 200 chart.
In a November 2025 interview with PEOPLE, the singer shared her excitement about the release of “Cloud 9,” remarking, “It’s the most excited I’ve been about an album release so far.” She attributed the positive energy surrounding the project to the additional time she had to develop it, resulting in a body of work that reflects a solid personal foundation. “It’s written from a perspective where my feet are really planted, and I feel really confident with where I’m at in my life and who’s around me,” she noted, playfully calling the album her “favourite child” and admitting she would “ditch the first two for this one.”
In addition to her impressive array of nominations, Moroney also shared plans for an extensive international arena tour set for 2026. This ambitious tour, which spans 43 dates, will include stops in various prestigious venues across North America, Europe, and the UK. Notable locations on her itinerary include New York City’s Barclays Center and the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
The 61st ACM Awards, hosted by the iconic Shania Twain, will be livestreamed on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. While Moroney will be sidelined this year, her career trajectory suggests that this may be just the beginning of her journey in the spotlight, with many more accolades likely to come.
Fans of the rising star will undoubtedly be eager to see how her career evolves following the release of her latest album and her international tour. With her strong work ethic and dedication to her craft, Megan Moroney is poised to remain a significant force in the country music industry for years to come.