CMA Apologizes After Sammy Kershaw Red Carpet Denial Sparks Backlash

The Country Music Association apologized on Monday after Sammy Kershaw and Rodney Atkins said they had been denied red carpet access for this month's CMA Awards, a decision that drew four days of criticism from fans and from other country artists.

In a statement posted on Monday, Nov. 9, the association said the red carpet has criteria to manage limited space and security needs for artists and media. "We are deeply sorry anyone felt excluded by those decisions," the statement said. The CMA said its mission is to honor the history of country music and celebrate its excellence, and that with the 60th anniversary awards this year it is working to spotlight six decades of the music in one night. The association said it is in touch with Kershaw's team and wants to keep that conversation going, and that it will keep listening for ways to make all artists feel welcome.

Kershaw said the denial hurt

Kershaw, 68, posted on Thursday, Nov. 5 that the CMA had denied his request to walk the red carpet for a few minutes at this year's awards with his wife, Mendy. He called the decision extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing, and said he and his wife had rearranged his touring schedule and booked travel to attend. Kershaw first hit in 1991 and is best known for songs such as "She Don't Know She's Beautiful."

His manager told Country Rebel that the CMA cited an overwhelming number of artist requests for the red carpet and the show, and said Kershaw did not meet the association's updated criteria. The manager said Kershaw could buy tickets to the awards, and that at that point he was not planning to attend.

Atkins says he was turned away too

Rodney Atkins said in a post on Nov. 8 that he and his wife, songwriter Rose Falcon, were also denied red carpet clearance. Atkins said he has been a CMA member for more than 20 years and has played many CMA Fest shows for free. He said the two of them will not attend this year's awards. Atkins also said the artists who helped build country music, singers like Kershaw, deserve a place in its celebrations.

Other artists backed Kershaw in the days after his post, among them Riley Green, Carly Pearce, Meghan Patrick, Mark Chesnutt and Doug Stone. Radio host Bobby Bones posted three times criticizing the decision and the criteria behind it, the Tennessean reported. Stella Parton said artists being denied red carpet access is nothing new.

The apology did not end the argument

The statement did not settle the matter. Jake Owen, who had already spoken up for Kershaw, posted on Instagram on Monday that the CMA response was a lot of words saying nothing. He wrote that the association should have simply told Kershaw it was sorry and that it had made a mistake.

The CMA has not said whether Kershaw will now be cleared to walk the red carpet, and Kershaw has not said whether he will attend. The 60th CMA Awards are set for Wednesday, Nov. 18 at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville.