2024 People’s Choice Awards Struggle With No-Shows

The 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, which should have been a night of celebration for country music’s biggest stars, instead left audiences scratching their heads.

What should have been a thrilling event was marked by a glaring issue—an attendance problem.

Keep on reading for more details!

What Actually Happened?

A significant number of winners were nowhere to be found, resulting in a rushed “prize dump” at the end of the show where multiple awards were announced in quick succession.

This wasn’t just a minor oversight but a glaring reflection of a deeper issue plaguing country music’s awards shows.

In one of the most surprising moments of the night, the People’s Artist of 2024 award, arguably the most coveted prize of the evening, was not even included in the program.

Out of the eight nominees, only one—Kane Brown—was present. His attendance was the exception, not the rule.

Could you imagine something as prestigious as Entertainer of the Year being reduced to a footnote in another awards show? That’s essentially what happened here.

The situation was further exacerbated by the absence of numerous nominees and performers.

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While Shania Twain took on hosting duties, and performers like Keith Urban, Brad Paisley, and Kelsea Ballerini delivered standout performances, it wasn’t enough to fill the void left by the absent stars.

Big names like Morgan Wallen, Luke Combs, and Beyoncé were among the night’s biggest winners, but none of them were present to accept their awards, and for various reasons, neither were many others.

Why So Many No-Shows?

The reasons behind the no-shows varied. Some had legitimate scheduling conflicts, while others seemed to prioritize personal commitments.

Jelly Roll, for instance, was performing in Boston as part of his Beautifully Broken Tour, which explains his absence.

Kacey Musgraves was busy on her Deeper Well Tour, and Lainey Wilson was on tour in Vancouver, making it impossible for her to attend.

Similarly, Megan Moroney was performing in Europe, and Chris Stapleton had to prepare for an early-morning concert on NBC’s Today show.

Others, however, appeared to have simply opted out. Morgan Wallen, who wrapped up his tour days before the event, didn’t attend despite winning People’s Artist and Concert Tour of 2024.

Zach Bryan, another notable absentee, didn’t give a reason for his absence, but his decision raised eyebrows given that he skipped last year’s event as well.

Post Malone was spotted at an NFL game in New Jersey, casually watching the Dallas Cowboys versus New York Giants game.

And despite releasing one of the biggest love songs of the year alongside Carrie Underwood, Cody Johnson missed the opportunity to perform or attend the event, even though he didn’t have any scheduled tour dates.

This widespread absence of top-tier talent, especially those nominated for multiple awards, led to a somewhat deflating experience for both the audience and those watching from home.

The Bigger Issue: Awards Show Fatigue?

What happened at the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards points to a larger, long-standing issue in country music—awards show fatigue.

There are currently four major awards shows in country music: the CMA Awards, the ACM Awards, the CMT Music Awards, and now the People’s Choice Country Awards.

With so many events vying for attention, it’s easy to understand why artists may not feel compelled to attend every single one.

It’s a lot to ask artists to repeatedly clear their schedules, especially during busy tour seasons, for multiple awards shows in a single year.

Some fans argue that one of these shows—perhaps the PCCAs—may be one too many. After all, if artists and nominees aren’t prioritizing the event, it becomes difficult for fans to remain engaged.

In 2024, the People’s Choice Country Awards became more of a side note than a highlight of the country music calendar.

Who Skipped and Why

Let’s break down some of the key absentees and why they weren’t at the awards:

A Defining Moment for Future Awards Shows?

The absence of so many stars highlights a potential turning point for country music awards shows.

If the industry doesn’t address the growing apathy of artists, the relevance and importance of these events may diminish.

Artists’ schedules, fan engagement, and the sheer number of awards shows are all factors that must be considered.

For now, the People’s Choice Country Awards in 2024 will likely be remembered more for who didn’t attend than for who won.

Moving forward, it’s worth asking: will artists and fans continue to support four major awards shows, or is it time to streamline the way the country music industry honors its stars?

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Conclusion

• Many stars were absent from the 2024 People’s Choice Country Awards, which affected the event.
• Some artists had valid reasons, like touring or other commitments.
• Some skipped the event for personal reasons, raising questions about the importance of the awards.
• The large number of country music award shows may be overwhelming for artists.
• If this continues, the People’s Choice Country Awards might lose significance, and changes may be needed.

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