The nominees for the 2025 ACM Awards are out. While there are plenty of artists that were rightfully nominated, including Ella Langley‘s eight nominations, and Post Malone‘s first ACM Awards nods, there are still several artists who should have been nominated, but weren’t. Keep reading to see who inexplicably didn’t hear their name mentioned when the nominees were announced.
1. Keith Urban
Keith Urban last won an ACM Award in 2018, and his last nomination was in 2020. It seems shocking that Urban has fallen off the list of nominees, even though his career continues to soar. In September Urban released HIGH, arguably one of the best records of last year. It also includes his current single, “Straight Line,” plus “Messed Up As Me” and his “Go Home W U” duet with Lainey Wilson. It’s shocking that he didn’t receive any recognition.
2. Scotty McCreery
Scotty McCreery has only been nominated for one ACM Award, and that was in 2011, for New Artist of the Year. There have been plenty of years since then that seemed like McCreery’s year to hear his name in the list of nominations, including this year. His Rise & Fall album was released last year, which includes his sixth No. 1 single, with “Cab In A Solo.” He also released his current hit single, “Fall of Summer,” and became a member of the Grand Ole Opry. Artists have done far less and still been recognized by the Academy of Country Music.
3. Drew Baldridge
This should have been Drew Baldridge‘s year to at least be nominated for New Male Artist of the Year. On his own, without any support from a record label, Baldridge earned a No. 1 hit with “She’s Somebody’s Daughter,” He also happened to break a record, held by Aaron Watson in 2017, as a result. Baldridge got to open for Cody Johnson on tour, and has another Top 15 single, with “Tough People.” If Baldridge was disappointed to not hear his name among the list of nominees, he had every right to be.
4. Carrie Underwood
Yes, Carrie Underwood was nominated twice, but both of those nominations are for her “I’m Gonna Love You” duet with Cody Johnson. Underwood’s last Entertainer of the Year win was when she tied in 2020 with Thomas Rhett. She also, oddly, hasn’t been nominated for Female Artist of the Year since 2019. Meanwhile, Underwood sold-out one of the most successful Las Vegas residencies of all time, joined American Idol, and continued proving she is one of the hardest workers of all time, 20 years after her career began.
5. Thomas Rhett
Thomas Rhett hasn’t been nominated for Male Artist of the Year since 2021. His last ACM Award was in 2022 for helping write Cole Swindell‘s “She Had Me At Heads Carolina,” which won Song of the Year. Last year, Rhett released his critically acclaimed About A Woman record, which includes “Beautiful As You” and “Somethin’ ‘Bout a Woman,” his collaboration with Teddy Swims. Male Artist of the Year is notoriously a hard category, because of so many talented singers right now, but that doesn’t mean Rhett should be excluded.
6. Kane Brown
Like Rhett, Kane Brown deserved at least a nomination. He had a No. 1 hit with “I Can Feel It” and “Miles On It,” both from his latest The High Road album. He also headlined his successful In The Air Tour, joined on the road by Chris Young, Tyler Hubbard, Cole Swindell, Jon Pardi and Bailey Zimmerman. Brown’s last trophy he received during the ACM Awards was for Video of the Year in 2020, for “Worldwide Beautiful.” Fans are rightfully upset that his name wasn’t called at least once.
7. Luke Bryan
Luke Bryan is still having hit after hit after hit, even if he no longer gets acknowledged for his success as much as some of his peers. The Georgia native has had an astonishing 31 No. 1 hits, including his most recent, “Love You, Miss You, Mean It.” He also released his Mind of a Country Boy record last year, also headlining a tour of the same name. Meanwhile, his last nomination was in 2021 for his “Buy Dirt‘ collaboration with Jordan Davis.
8. Carly Pearce
Yes, Carly Pearce was nominated twice, but both Music Event of the Year (as artist and producer) for her “We Don’t Fight Anymore” collaboration with Chris Stapleton. Meanwhile, she was eliminated from Female Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, in spite of her stunning hummingbird record released in 2024, and Artist-Songwriter of the Year, even though she wrote all but one of the 14 tracks on hummingbird. She also kicked off her headlining Hummingbird World Tour. Pearce has a stunning, ethereal voice, is driven to be her best, and works harder than most. It’s unfortunate that she went unrecognized.
9. Kenny Chesney
It’s baffling that Kenny Chesney didn’t hear his name called, even once, when the ACM Awards nominations were announced. The future Country Music Hall of Fame member released his BORN album in 2024, which includes his current single, “Just To Say We Did,” released last year. It also includes “Take Her Home,” which became Chesney’s 33rd No. 1 hit. In addition, Chesney headlined his massive The Sun Goes Down World Tour, selling out stadiums all over the country. Artists have gotten a lot more recognition for a lot less than Chesney.