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27 Years After Alan Jackson Defended George Jones at the CMA Awards, the Songwriter Behind “Choices” Weighs In on Sammy Kershaw Debate
Songwriter Billy Yates has criticised the Country Music Association after it denied Sammy Kershaw’s request to walk the CMA Awards red carpet with his wife. Yates compared the decision with the 1990s dispute over George Jones’s performance of “Choices”, urging the organisation to reconsider its approach as artists and fans voice support for Kershaw.
Kershaw cited his decades in country music, chart hits and lifetime CMA membership when explaining why he felt he had earned the opportunity. The CMA said red carpet rules reflect space and security limits, and announced it was in contact with his team. In the earlier dispute, Jones was allotted one minute to sing “Choices” and stayed away; Alan Jackson performed the song in his place, in a moment Yates says made history.
In short
- Billy Yates says the CMA should rethink its red carpet decision.
- Sammy Kershaw wanted to walk with his wife.
- Yates recalls Alan Jackson performing “Choices” for George Jones.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Yates’s comparison gives voice to the view that a long-serving artist with a substantial contribution to country music deserves recognition and respectful treatment. Allowing Kershaw and his wife on the red carpet could be seen as a modest gesture of inclusion, especially given his lifetime CMA membership and the support he has received from artists and fans.
The case against
The CMA can reasonably argue that red carpet access must follow consistent rules shaped by limited space and security requirements, rather than an individual artist’s career standing. Its stated contact with Kershaw’s team suggests there may be room to address his concerns through those practical arrangements without treating access as an entitlement.