CMA Awards Red Carpet Row: Sammy Kershaw Says He Was Denied
Country singer Sammy Kershaw says he was denied red-carpet access to the CMA Awards on November 18, 2026. Rodney Atkins says he was refused too. Fans are sharing boycott memes and calling for an alternative show, while the association faces criticism over how long it took to respond.
Country singer Sammy Kershaw has said publicly that he was denied access to the red carpet at the 2026 CMA Awards, which take place on November 18. For critics of the Country Music Association, it's red carpet access on the surface and respect for the genre's veterans underneath.
Rodney Atkins has since said he made a request to walk the carpet and was turned down too.
Fans call for a boycott
Scores of artists have rallied behind Kershaw. Fans are passing around memes that declare they will boycott the broadcast.
Some want an alternative awards show or presentation where Kershaw, Atkins and others could attend and possibly perform.
The complaint is about who gets in. Country legends, Grand Ole Opry members, producers, songwriters and side players may have been refused as well, critics say. Others may never have asked because they assumed the answer.
Meanwhile, TikTok influencers, actors, online celebrities and athletes are being invited and approved, according to the same critics.
Bobby Bones weighs in
Syndicated radio host Bobby Bones addressed the row on Saturday. He called it a "PR disaster for the CMAs" and warned: "It's just gonna get worse and worse 'till someone clears it."
Sunday passed without a resolution. By Monday morning the association had still not settled the matter, even as articles, social media posts, memes and viral videos pushed the dispute to the top of the country music conversation. The CMA has since responded to the backlash.
Leadership in transition
The timing is awkward. In January, Country Music Association CEO Sarah Trahern announced she would retire at the end of 2026.
Critics also point to exclusivity at the Country Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which the association oversees. Only a select few take part in that process, they say.
An echo of an older fight
Longtime country commentators are comparing the uproar to an earlier flashpoint. In a December 2012 episode of GAC Backstory, Blake Shelton said: "Nobody wants to listen to their grandpa's music."
The comments were reposted on January 23, 2013, and Ray Price led the condemnation. Dozens of others joined in.
Dale Watson then launched his Ameripolitan Awards as an alternative to the CMAs. The CMA Awards are set for November 18.
