The real reason Beyonce was an Emmy Awards no-show

Beyonce attends the Manus x Machina: Fashion In An Age Of Technology, Costume Institute Gala at Metropolitan Museum of Art. Photo / Getty

Beyonce was too sick to attend the Emmy Awards.

The Formation singer was nominated for the Outstanding Directing for a Variety Special for her HBO Lemonade special and had reportedly been due to attend Sunday (18.09.16) evening's ceremony - where she lost out to Grease: Lives Thomas Kail and Alex Rudzinski - but pulled out at the last minute because she was unwell.

A source told E! News: "She wanted to be there. But at the last minute, decided it was better if she stayed home because she really was feeling that bad."

The 35-year-old star had planned to attend with her husband Jay Z - and her mother Tina Knowles.

Beyonce wasn't the only star whose absence at the ceremony was noted.

Dame Maggie Smith was awarded the Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series accolade for the fourth time but, once again, the 83-year-old actress - who has been nominated for nine Emmys over the years - failed to attend the ceremony.

Tina Knowles, Beyonce Knowles and Jay-Z during Olympus Fashion Week Fall 2005 - Marc Jacobs - Front Row. Photo / Getty

After her win was announced, the evening's host Jimmy Kimmel took to the stage in faux protest and joked that in future, the award would be given to someone else if the winner wasn't there to collect it.

Expressing his frustration that the veteran star has never attended the prestigious ceremony, he joked:

"No, no, no, no, no. We're not mailing this to her. Maggie, if you want this, it'll be in the lost and found.

"You must be present to win. If we call your name and you're not here to accept, the Emmy goes to the next name on the list. It's called the Maggie Smith rule."

Bloodline star Ben Mendelsohn, who scooped the Emmy for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, was also absent so Empire star Taraji P. Henson said she would take home the trophy on his behalf after announcing his win.

She said: "I'll have it at for home when you get back, Ben. Thanks!"