Megan Moroney is the most-nominated artist of the night at the 2026 Academy of Country Music Awards, but she won’t be attending the show. Ahead of the ceremony on May 17, the country singer explained the reason for her absence via her Instagram Story.
It turns out a prior commitment is keeping Moroney from the awards show in Las Vegas: her best friend’s wedding! Moroney is the maid of honor at the wedding, so that will be taking priority.
“I’m honored to be nominated tonight at @acmawards & I’m rooting on all my friends from afar!” Moroney wrote. “I’m out of the country this week on MOH duty to get my best friend married. I [heart] you guys and can’t wait to see y’all in columbus! Counting down the days.”
Moroney’s Cloud 9 tour kicks off in Columbus, Ohio, on May 29. She released her album of the same name in February. The tour ends its U.S. leg on August 22 in Nashville, then heads overseas for a Europe run in September before concluding on October 1 in the U.K.
At the ACM Awards, Moroney scored eight nominations, the most of any artist. She’s up for Entertainer of the Year, Female Artist of the Year, Single of the Year (“6 Months Later”), Song of the Year (“Am I Okay?”), Artist-Songwriter of the Year, Visual Media of the Year (“6 Months Later”), and Music Event of the Year (“You Had to Be There” with Kenny Chesney).
Ahead of the show, it was announced that Ella Langley won the Artist-Songwriter award, and Stephen Wilson Jr. took home Visual Media for “Cuckoo.” The rest of Moroney’s categories will be announced during the ceremony, which is hosted by Shania Twain.
Moroney previously won New Female Artist of the Year at the 2024 ACM Awards. She’s also been nominated seven other times before this year.
Academy of Country Music Awards 2026, Sunday, May 17, 8/7c, Prime Video
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