We told you Friday that Sammy Kershaw was upset at being told he wouldn’t be walking the red carpet at next week’s CMA Awards. We also told you he had the support of many of his contemporaries. Now the CMA has responded.
“In recent days, several artists and their fans have spoken out about this year’s CMA Awards red carpet guidelines. Like any major televised event, the red carpet has criteria that exist to help manage limited space and the security needs for both the artists and the media. We are deeply sorry anyone felt excluded by those decisions. Our organization’s mission is to honor the history and celebrate the excellence of Country Music. With this 60th anniversary year, we are working extra hard to simultaneously spotlight the last six decades, while also celebrating what has been a tremendous year in 2026…We also know this is about more than a red carpet, and we are committed to keep listening and keep finding ways to make sure all artists feel welcome and at home here. To that point, we are in touch with Sammy Kershaw’s team and look forward to continuing that conversation.” To see how they resolve the situation, watch the 60th CMA Awards, airing live from Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 18, on ABC and Disney+ and available to stream the following day on Hulu.
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