Morgan Wallen Absent Again at 2025 CMA Awards

Chamberlain, SD – Singer Morgan Wallen is opting out of the 2025 CMA Awards, marking his second consecutive absence from the prestigious event.

Wallen, a nominee for Album of the Year, Male Vocalist, and Entertainer of the Year, did not appear on the red carpet or in the audience as the awards show commenced in Nashville. Despite his absence, he has already won the International Artist Achievement Award, which the Country Music Association announced last week.

The reason for Wallen’s absence remains unclear. He has not made any official statements about why he has missed these awards shows recently.

His close friend and collaborator, Ernest, provided some insight during an interview with Taste of Country. He stated, “He don’t give a s–t. Since when is Morgan giving a s–t? Who’s making more money doing this than Morgan Wallen?” He emphasized that Wallen likely doesn’t feel the need to attend these shows.

Earlier this month, Wallen surprised attendees at Ella Langley’s concert in Nashville. While there, he humorously remarked that “it takes a lot more than an awards show to get me out to Broadway these days.”

Wallen is thought to be on a break from public appearances and social media since his tour ended a few weeks before the awards. Some fans speculate that his absence may stem from a lingering controversy. In 2021, a video surfaced showing him using a racist slur, resulting in blacklisting from several country music platforms, including the CMAs.

Despite his tumultuous past, Wallen returned to the CMA stage in 2022 and 2023. Last year, he won his first Entertainer of the Year award but did not acknowledge it publicly until days later on social media.

With Wallen’s absence noted, it raises questions for fans about the significance of the awards and the future of his relationship with the CMA.