# After Defending Sammy Kershaw Amid CMA Awards Dispute, Riley Green Pays Tribute With a 1992 Country Classic

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/after-defending-sammy-kershaw-amid-cma-awards-dispute-riley-green-pays-tribute-with-a-1992-country-classic/
- Published: 2026-11-14T18:15:00+00:00
- Updated: 2026-11-14T19:25:48+00:00
- Original publisher: American Songwriter
- Original article: https://americansongwriter.com/after-defending-sammy-kershaw-amid-cma-awards-dispute-riley-green-pays-tribute-with-a-1992-country-classic/
- Topics: Americas, Entertainment, Music, World

## Key points

- Riley Green covered Sammy Kershaw’s 1992 song “Yard Sale”.
- Kershaw was upset after being denied CMA red-carpet access.
- Following an apology, Kershaw agreed to attend the 2026 awards.

## Summary

Riley Green has shared a TikTok video of himself singing Sammy Kershaw’s 1992 song “Yard Sale”, showing support for the singer after a dispute over his access to the CMA Awards red carpet. The row drew attention to how country music recognises artists who helped shape the genre.

Kershaw said he had been denied red-carpet access and described the decision as hurtful and embarrassing; Green and other country artists publicly backed him. The CMA apologised to anyone who felt excluded and said it was speaking with Kershaw’s team. Kershaw later received a personal apology and agreed to attend the 2026 awards.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.