Megan Moroney, the top nominee at the 2026 ACM Awards with nine nods, will not attend the ceremony as she is abroad serving as Maid of Honor at her best friend Natalie King’s wedding.

Moroney is headlining the Cloud 9 arena tour beginning May 29 in Columbus, Ohio, following the February release of Cloud 9, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and features songs like Beautiful Things and 6 Months Later.

She announced the news on Instagram Stories on May 17, saying she will support her peers remotely while away.

Prime Video will stream the ACM Awards live, with a full reair available the next day.

Several category winners were announced early, with six categories still to be decided, including Entertainer of the Year.

The Tennessean’s music reporter Audrey Gibbs covers the event and provides contact and social details.

Ella Langley won Artist-Songwriter and Stephen Wilson Jr. won Visual Media at the ceremony; Moroney’s remaining categories will be announced during the show, hosted by Shania Twain.

Moroney had posted that rehearsals were completed and opening night was approaching when she shared her plans to perform or participate in tour activities from abroad.

The ACM Awards were streamed on Prime Video, with Moroney actively promoting her tour and charitable efforts during the event.

Her reason for missing the ceremony centers on a close friend who inspired her 2021 song Wonder, reinforcing the personal priority.

Host Shania Twain acknowledged Moroney’s absence and introduced a pre-taped message in which she explained her reason and urged support for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Moroney appeared virtually wearing a St. Jude Music Gives T-shirt, praising staff and urging fans to donate and wear the charity’s apparel.