A Former Country Star Said the CMA Wouldn’t Let Him on the Red Carpet. All Hell Broke Loose

Sammy Kershaw, a 1990s country hitmaker and lifetime member of the Country Music Association, says the organisation denied his request to walk the CMA Awards’ media red carpet with his wife. His complaint prompted support from other musicians and calls for a boycott, shifting attention ahead of the 18 November ceremony to who gets recognised and whose concerns draw a response.

Kershaw, 68, can still attend as a ticketed guest, but the article says it is unclear whether he meets the published criteria for red-carpet access. Several artists, including Riley Green, Carly Pearce and Pam Tillis, supported him. The article argues the reaction contrasts with the limited industry protest over the absence of Black nominees in 2026 and the long-standing underrepresentation of women and other artists.