Megan Moroney Misses ACM Awards in Person Amid Maid of Honor Duties
Megan Moroney, 28, the breakout country star and most nominated artist at the 2026 ACM Awards, is double-booked this weekend — and fans won’t be seeing her in Las Vegas. Moroney earned a total of nine nominations this year, including the coveted Entertainer of the Year award, following the release of her chart-topping album Cloud 9.
On May 17, Moroney shared an Instagram Stories post explaining her absence. “I’m so honored 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 honor] duty to get my bestie married.” She tagged her longtime friend and bride-to-be, Natalie King, alongside a snap of the pair wearing wedding-themed sweatsuits.
Moroney also teased fans about her upcoming tour, writing, “i 🩷you guys & can’t wait to see y’all in Columbus! Counting down the days :)” Her Cloud 9 Tour kicks off on May 29, marking the start of her first international arena tour with 43 dates across North America, Europe, and the U.K., including stops at iconic venues like New York City’s Barclays Center and Los Angeles’ Crypto.com Arena.
Even though she won’t be on the red carpet, Moroney is in strong contention for Entertainer of the Year alongside country heavyweights Lainey Wilson, Chris Stapleton, Cody Johnson, Luke Combs, Jelly Roll, and Morgan Wallen, as well as eight other award categories.
Following the breakout success of her 2024 sophomore LP Am I Okay?, which featured the No. 1 hit title track, Moroney followed up with the smash single “6 Months Later.” In February, she released Cloud 9, which became her first Billboard 200 No. 1 album. Speaking to PEOPLE in a November 2025 digital cover story, Moroney described the project as her most exciting album yet.
“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 said, joking that the new album is her “favorite child” and that she “would ditch the first two for this one.”
The 61st Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Shania Twain, are streaming live on Prime Video from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, celebrating the genre’s top stars. While Moroney may be celebrating a friend’s wedding instead of walking the red carpet, her nominations and upcoming tour ensure she remains one of country music’s brightest stars.
