AceShowbiz - Megan Moroney, the top nominee at the 2026 Academy of Country Music (ACM) Awards with nine nominations, will not attend the ceremony Sunday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Despite being up for multiple major awards, including entertainer of the year, Megan Moroney has a heartfelt reason for her absence.

On Sunday morning, Megan Moroney shared on social media that she is serving as the maid of honor at her best friend’s wedding. Her longtime fans will recognize her friend, Natalie, as the inspiration behind Moroney’s 2021 song “Wonder.” The track tells the story of a friend caught in a difficult relationship with a man who is inconsistent and untrustworthy.

In the song, Megan Moroney advises Natalie to reconsider her relationship, urging her to wait for someone who treats her with respect, shows up when promised, and “won’t make you wonder” about his love. It appears Natalie took that advice to heart, as she is now getting married.

Sharing her excitement on Instagram, Megan Moroney wrote, “I’m so honored to be nominated tonight at @acmawards & I’m rooting on all my friends from afar! I’m out of the country this week on MOH duty to get my bestie married.” She posted a photo of herself and Natalie wearing matching “Bridesmaid” and “Bride” sweatsuits.

It’s a busy period for Megan Moroney. Besides her entertainer of the year nomination, she is also up for eight other awards, including female artist of the year and artist-songwriter of the year. Additionally, her single “6 Months Later” is nominated for single of the year.

Later this month, Megan Moroney will launch her Cloud 9 arena headlining tour, beginning May 29 in Columbus, Ohio. The tour is named after her February album, which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 all-genre albums chart. That album has produced multiple top 10 hits on the Country Airplay chart, including “Beautiful Things” and “6 Months Later.”

The 2026 ACM Awards will be streamed live on Amazon Prime Video starting at 8 p.m. ET, allowing fans to watch the ceremony even though Megan Moroney won’t be there in person.

Megan Moroney’s decision to prioritize her best friend’s wedding over attending the ACM Awards highlights the importance she places on personal relationships, even amidst a landmark year in her career. Her fans will undoubtedly celebrate her achievements and look forward to her upcoming tour dates and future projects.

This article is based on reporting originally published by Billboard.