Sammy Kershaw rearranged his touring schedule and booked flights and a hotel to attend the CMA Awards with his wife, Mendy. Then, he says, the organization denied his request to walk the red carpet.
The singer, 68, shared his frustration on Instagram on November 5, saying the decision followed months of discussions. “It’s extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing,” he wrote.
His manager subsequently told Country Rebel that Kershaw was no longer planning to attend. Purchasing tickets remained an option, but that would not give him the carpet appearance he had requested.
The Country Music Association had not responded to PEOPLE‘s request for comment when its November 6 report was updated. Kershaw and Mendy had previously been photographed walking the CMA Awards carpet together in 2016.
Kershaw Points to His Lifetime Membership and Years Supporting CMA Fest
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In his statement, Kershaw said he had received lifetime CMA membership in 1992 and had donated his time to perform at CMA Fest. He cited more than five decades in entertainment, millions of recordings sold or streamed and more than two dozen Billboard-charting singles.
His national breakthrough came with the 1991 album Don’t Go Near the Water. Hits followed, including She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful and Queen of My Double-Wide Trailer. Kershaw said he remained grateful to be touring and wanted the association to make room for performers who had contributed to its success.
He closed by suggesting that his next appearance at the awards might be “in tribute after I’m gone, if I’m lucky.”
His Manager Says Updated Criteria and Demand Were Behind the Decision
In the statement provided to Country Rebel, Kershaw’s manager said organizers had cited an overwhelming number of artist requests and updated eligibility criteria that the singer did not meet. The manager did not specify what those requirements were.
The available tickets would cost roughly $800 or more per person, according to the manager, and organizers could not guarantee that Kershaw and Mendy would sit with the other artists.
When Louisiana station KALB separately contacted his management company, The Holland Group, president Billy Holland declined to elaborate. He told the station that “there are a lot of things happening with this story.”
Mark Chesnutt Criticizes the CMA as Drew Baldridge Offers His Spot
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Mark Chesnutt published his own statement on November 6, accusing the organization of overlooking performers who became stars in the 1990s. “The CMA doesn’t care about us old 90s guys any more,” he wrote, according to Country Now.
Chesnutt argued that country music should honor its veteran performers as enthusiastically as rock celebrates its history. He criticized the attention given to celebrities from other entertainment fields, while thanking the audiences who continued to attend his and his contemporaries’ concerts.
He and Kershaw once competed for the same CMA trophy. Both were nominated for the Horizon Award in 1993, with Chesnutt winning. The category is now called New Artist of the Year.
Riley Green also questioned how Kershaw could be considered undeserving of a place on the carpet. Carly Pearce credited his generation’s influence, writing that “many of us wouldn’t be here without artists like you,” while Jake Owen declared, “I’m team Sammy,” as Us Weekly documented.
Drew Baldridge offered something more specific. In an Instagram Story reported by Country Now, he volunteered to surrender his own red carpet place to Kershaw, saying he could not consider himself more deserving.
The CMA Had Already Promised an Emphasis on ’90s Country
Before Kershaw’s complaint, CMA CEO Sarah Trahern described plans to emphasize the influence of 1990s performers at this year’s ceremony. In an October Billboard interview, she explained that many of today’s artists look to stars of that decade as their musical heroes.
Trahern named Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, Faith Hill and Martina McBride among those influences. She also said elements of the stage design were being reworked to reflect country music’s history.
The CMA‘s November 5 announcement confirmed performances by McGraw, Miranda Lambert, Cody Johnson, Kacey Musgraves, Ella Langley, Zach Top, Tucker Wetmore and The Red Clay Strays, along with a tribute to Dolly Parton.
Lainey Wilson will host the 60th annual ceremony at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena on Wednesday, November 18. The show airs live at 8 p.m. ET on ABC and Disney+, with next-day streaming on Hulu.