Sammy Kershaw on CMA Awards snub
The gist
Country singer Sammy Kershaw says the CMA denied his request to walk the 2026 Awards red carpet with his wife.
The show bills a '90s country tribute, so the snub of a '90s star drew peer backlash.
How it unfolded
- Nov 5, 2026Kershaw posted that the CMA denied his request to walk the red carpet with his wife at the 2026 CMA Awards, saying he learned of it two weeks before the show after being "strung along for several months."
- Nov 6, 2026Kershaw's manager told Country Rebel the denial came because the CMA received an overwhelming number of artist requests and Kershaw "didn't meet their updated criteria"; he could buy tickets at roughly $800+ apiece without guaranteed artist seating, and is not planning to attend.
- Nov 7, 2026Riley Green commented on Kershaw's Instagram post and shared a TikTok cover of Kershaw's song "Yard Sale" from a Hawaii balcony.
Key terms
- CMA
- American trade association founded in 1958 to promote and develop country music worldwide, known for its annual awards.
- red carpet
- A ceremonial carpet marking the route of heads of state, now also used for VIPs and celebrities at formal events.
- CMA Fest
- A four-day country music festival held each June in downtown Nashville by the Country Music Association.
Source: Wikipedia