Zach Bryan won’t be in the running for any awards at the 2025 Grammys after choosing not to submit his music for consideration, Variety reports. The country musician reportedly withheld his work because “he does not feel comfortable with awards shows making music competitive.” Voting for the 2025 Grammy Awards opened today (October 4).
In reportedly boycotting the Grammy Awards, Bryan joins the ranks of other high-profile artists who have withdrawn from the nominations process in recent years. Drake snubbed the Recording Academy in 2021 and 2022, but broke his streak last year to enter Her Loss for Best Rap Album (eventually losing to Killer Mike). The Weeknd, meanwhile, has been steadfast in his boycott since After Hours and “Blinding Lights” were completely absent from the 2021 nominations. Macklemore & Ryan Lewis, Frank Ocean, and Silk Sonic have also chosen not to submit work for Grammys consideration in the past.
Bryan had a number of commercially successful songs and projects that he could have submitted for 2025 Grammys consideration. His September 2023 EP, Boys of Faith, featured collaborations with Bon Iver and Noah Kahan and spent 17 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, peaking at No. 8. He also got Matthew McConaughey to star in the music video for the EP’s “Nine Ball.” Bryan’s latest album, July’s The Great American Bar Scene, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard 200, and its most popular song, “Pink Skies,” has reached No. 6 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Bryan has been nominated for four Grammy Awards. He won his first trophy in February, for Best Country Duo/Group Performance, for the Kacey Musgraves duet “I Remember Everything.”
Pitchfork has reached out to Zach Bryan and the Recording Academy’s respective representatives for comment.
