NEED TO KNOW
- Sammy Kershaw says the CMA denied his request to walk the red carpet with wife Mendy
- The country singer said the situation “really hurts me”
- Riley Green, Jake Owen and Carly Pearce voiced support ahead of the Nov. 18 ceremony
Country singer Sammy Kershaw won’t be walking the red carpet at this year’s CMA Awards — and according to him, it’s not by choice.
Kershaw, 68, aired his grievances with the Country Music Association in a statement shared to social media on Thursday, Nov. 5, in which he claimed that his request to walk the carpet with his wife Mendy had been “denied.”
“Well, I just found out some disappointing news and it really hurts me. I have to share my disappointment with the CMA as they have denied my request to walk the red carpet for a few minutes at this year’s CMA Awards, and I have to say I’m pretty sad about it,” he wrote.
Reps for the CMA Awards did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
The “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer” singer said he and Mendy do not often attend industry events due to touring and scheduling conflicts, but had moved things around and booked flights and hotels in order to be at this year’s ceremony on Nov. 18 in Nashville.
“She was really looking forward to us sharing a special evening together celebrating country music,” he wrote. “Then, to find out I was denied the red carpet two weeks before the show, after being strung along for several months and expecting we would be attending.
Kershaw went on to defend his status as a notable country star, citing his millions of records sold, the fact that he is a lifetime CMA member who has “donate[d]” his time to play CMA Fest, and his nomination at the 1993 CMAs for the Horizon Award, which has since evolved into the New Artist of the Year prize.
“I would hope I’ve earned the opportunity to walk the red carpet alongside my wife, as we’ve done before,” Kershaw wrote. “I’m blessed to still be out on tour every year, performing for the greatest fans in the world and doing what I love. I believe there should be room to recognize the artists who have spent their lives contributing to this organization’s success.”
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The musician concluded by calling the situation “extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing,” and dryly quipped that the next time he’d be attending the CMAs would likely be “in a tribute after I’m gone, if I’m lucky.”
Kershaw and Mendy were previously photographed walking the red carpet at the CMA Awards in 2016.
His post inspired a number of supportive messages from stars like Riley Green, Jake Owen and Carly Pearce.
“Sammy was denied red carpet access because they received an overwhelming number of artist requests for the red carpet and awards show. He didn’t meet their updated criteria, BUT he could purchase tickets for the CMA Awards,” the statement read. “However, they couldn’t guarantee that he and his wife would be seated with the other artists if he purchased the tickets, which are roughly $800+ apiece. As of right now, Sammy is now not planning to attend.”
This year’s CMA Awards are hosted by Lainey Wilson and will take place Nov. 18 in Nashville.
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