Charley Crockett’s Ban from Canada for Weed Charge is Ridiculous
This is really what we’re doing, tolerant Canada? What, you pissed off because you got your nose pushed in at the Olympics in hockey by the boys down south for the Gold?
On Sunday night (2-22), only an hour or two before Charley Crockett was supposed to take the stage at Vancouver’s historic Orpheum theater, the show was cancelled due to what was initially announced as “unforeseen circumstances.” Those unforeseen circumstances turned out to be Crockett being denied entry to Canada, twice, due to a 10-year-old weed charge in the United States.
As fans who’d already arrived at the venue witnessed Charley’s semi-truck with his name emblazoned on the side pull up to the venue, they were excited for the night’s show. But Charley himself couldn’t make it, even though he’s toured Canada many times in the past with no entry problems to speak of.
“Everybody’s got a past. Mine’s still haunting me,” Crockett said Monday morning (2-23). “I tried to cross the Canadian border twice in 24 hours. After they denied me entry in Vancouver, I tried again in Kelowna and was rejected a 2nd time. I’ve been advised that it would jeopardize my freedom to try and enter again. I’m deeply sorry to announce the cancellation of my entire Canadian Tour.”
Charley Crockett was scheduled to perform eight dates all across Canada heading into early March. Now none of them will be fulfilled.
CANCELLED – 2/23 Edmonton, AB Northern Alberta Jubilee Auditorium
CANCELLED – 2/26 Winnipeg, MB Burton Cummings Theatre
CANCELLED – 3/1 Windsor, ON The Colosseum at Caesars Windsor
CANCELLED – 3/2 Toronto, ON History
CANCELLED – 3/3 Ottawa, ON Hard Rock Casino Ottawa
CANCELLED – 3/5 Montreal, QC MTELUS
CANCELLED – 3/6 Niagara Falls, ON Fallsview Casino Resort – OLG Stage
Crockett went on to say, “Full refunds will be issued at the point of purchase. I know this doesn’t begin to make up for y’all’s time and hard earned money. I apologize to everyone affected. I know I let y’all down. Canada’s such a beautiful country with some of the best fans in the world, and I’ve had the time of my life playing shows for y’all. I ain’t one to quit and I aim to be back one of these days real soon. Yours truly, Charley.”
Crockett also posted a printout of his denial of entry under Canada’s “Subsection 44(1) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act,” refusing him entry due to a felony conviction on March 22nd, 2016 for marijuana distribution of over 5 pounds in the State of Virginia. Crockett was given 10 years probation for the offense. The document goes on to say that such an offense in Canada is considered “serious criminality” and that it would be “punishable by a term of life imprisonment”in Canada.
But this was only true in 2016, not today. Canada legalized the possession of marijuana in 2018, and anyone is allowed to posses as much as 30 grams at any given time without legal repercussions. They are also allowed to grow and transport marijuana in certain quantities.
Canada’s marijuana is regulated, but even individuals found with major amounts of unregulated marijuana are only subject to a fine of up to $5,000, imprisonment for up to six months, not life. Even the most serious distribution/sale charges carry a penalty of five years, less a day.
According to Setlist.fm, Charley Crockett has performed in Canada at least 19 different times, crossing over into Canada on five separate occasions. He played a 7-date tour in Canada in July of 2023. He then returned to Canada later in the year on August 18th to perform at Lasso Montreal. He then played a 7-date tour in May of 2024, and then returned again to Canada to play Festival d’été de Québec in July. He returned to Canada again on August 28th, 2025 as part of his “The Crooner and The Cowboy” tour with Leon Bridges.
You break the law, you lose. But in this instance, it’s the fans in Canada who lose the opportunity to see Charley Crockett, including ones that paid for travel and hotels to see him. It’s the venues that lose the revenue they would have garnered by hosting the shows. The workers who were hoping for tips and pay on the night lose out as well, not to mention Charley’s crew and band who now have an empty hole in their calendar. This is just a lose/lose situation.
And even worse, it doesn’t bode well for American musicians attempting to cross into Canada to perform. Even if you have all your paperwork in order, artists and bands are going to be more reluctant to head to the frozen north, worried some wrinkle at the border will throw their entire tour in disarray. John Moreland cancelled his Canadian tour in 2025 due to similar concerns. Hypothetically, Willie Nelson could be denied entry since he has marijuana convictions.
This is also happening vice versa, with some Canadian bands deciding to forgo American tours due to tensions between the two countries, and more strict immigration laws.
Some are laughing at Charley Crockett for getting a taste of his own medicine after lashing out at the Trump Administration recently after the ICE operations in Minnesota. But ironically, Crockett’s comments came after ICE had already re-assigned top brass, and ramped down operations in Minnesota. Crockett also didn’t criticize the U.S. immigration policy. He instead strangely criticized Trump for being a draft dodger and a failed casino owner. He did say Elon Musk should be deported, though.
Either way, Charley Crockett should be allowed into Canada to perform shows, especially since any concern is over a decades old marijuana charge, and he’s been let in many times before. Clearly he’s no threat to the public, and denial of entry is punitive and breaks precedent. This only hurts music’s ability to create international good will, and impinges of creative commerce that benefits folks on both sides of the border.
Canada’s inconsistent action here should be overruled, and maybe Crockett can return after March 22nd when his 10-year probation officially is fulfilled in the United States.
This story has been updated with more information.
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February 23, 2026 @ 11:24 am
This is all they have left, after we took hockey from them.
February 23, 2026 @ 8:45 pm
The charge was actually “impersonating talent” but even that got dismissed for lack of evidence. Smoke ’em while you got ’em. If only “laughing while dead” were possible, Charley Pride could straighten this situation out without saying one word. Oh please keep us up to date on this important issue about Saving Country Music
February 24, 2026 @ 8:19 am
So u dont like charley? Why reallest dude goin ..awesome performer
February 24, 2026 @ 5:29 am
Maybe you should speak to your President. He is the one insisting that Canada has a STRONG BEAUTIFUL BORDER. Idiots.
February 24, 2026 @ 10:43 am
I shall speak to him!
March 1, 2026 @ 2:59 pm
Trump never said that. In fact, he criticized the Canadians for allowing drugs into the US through the US / Canada border (not strong, not beautiful), and obviously wants to eliminate the northern border entirely by making Canada part of the US. An idiot my book is someone who need to make shit up to have an argument.
February 26, 2026 @ 10:29 am
Lol what do you think happens if a Canadian trys to come into America and admits they’ve smoked weed. I’ll tell you what happens lol… we aren’t let in…. so what’s the deal here? Why is it outrageous. Why do you think it has to do with hockey lol. Same thing happened with Lil Wayne years ago.
February 23, 2026 @ 11:34 am
I don’t know what he was actually charged with in Virginia, but the image of the letter says “>5lbs” (greater than five pounds). The article says “under 5 pounds.”
February 23, 2026 @ 11:53 am
In my universe, greater than five pounds would be symbolized by “<5lbs.” with the symbol increasing in volume as opposed to decreasing. But maybe this is why I’m a writer and not an engineer.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:21 pm
A friend sent me an article earlier. It was greater than 5 pounds (I believe 6.6 pounds). a few interesting side notes:
1) the probable cause to search Charley’s vehicle was that arresting police officer smelled marijuana. That’s no longer enough cause in the state of Virginia.
2) the arresting officer said that Charley was incredibly polite and cooperative and took at his guitar and started playing while they searched his vehicle.
3) the arresting officer claims that when they pulled the suitcase containing the marijuana out of the trunk, Charley started playing Willie’s “The Party’s Over.”
4) Charley has said in interviews that he played “The Party’s Over” but has claimed he froze up and that’s the only song he could remember.
February 24, 2026 @ 6:07 am
The mounties measure in metric.
February 24, 2026 @ 7:34 am
I’m betting that they react to people carrying about two kilos of weed about the way the VA state police do with people carrying 5 pounds. Even the places that have legalized it recreationally still have some limit on the amount that you can carry, and it’s usually on the order of 1 ounce or 30 grams, depending on how metric the lawmakers were feeling.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:25 pm
Trig.–Seems your universe is one where the “greater than” and “less than” signs are the reverse of what they are here.
In any event, it’s really not for us to be telling Canada whom they should let into their country. Especially when we have a president who has made his personal control of the border into his hallmark issue and who goes out of his way to insult and threaten Canada at every turn.
If they asked me, I’d say, “Sure, you should let Charley Crockett in. Seems pretty dumb to keep him out.” But they haven’t, so I’m perfectly fine with letting them figure out whether keeping him out made sense.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:39 pm
I have been corrected on the great “lesser than more than” controversy of 2026, and amended the article quite a while ago.
The problem here is if Charley Crockett did everything he was supposed to do to ensure himself entry, has been granted entry before (which he has), and for some arbitrary reason—potentially including public acrimony between two countries—an arbitrary decision was made to deny Crockett because they technically could, on a technicality. That is what the concern here is. Of course Canada has the right to deny non-citizens entry. If they’re doing so in ways that make it difficult to impossible for musicians to know whether they will be given entry to Canada, this will cause a major disruption in the music community, and as concerned fans, we should make it our business.
February 25, 2026 @ 1:06 am
The Prime Minister has toughened up the border at President Trump’s behest, especially for drug crimes..
Crockett tried to cross the border twice, which is a big no-no.
February 25, 2026 @ 11:47 am
Trigger
I have to say this article is kind of leaving you with your slip showing.
As a IATSE Stagehand for over 35 years in Vancouver, I can say that this has happened approximately half a dozen times during my career just on shows I’ve personally been crew for.
It means a day’s work becomes a four hour minimum and maybe some day drinking with the guys to follow.
They may try to make some hay out of the crew standing around by doing a truck repack or something. This would especially be true if the tour is now canceled and the gear suppliers need to breakout the pack so their rentals can be returned.
The guy’s on this show did better than that since they only canceled last minute. The show would have been fully rigged in the Orpheum and then needed to be struck back to the trucks.
It happens, sometimes its the drummer canget across the border sometimes it’s the star.
February 26, 2026 @ 10:43 am
Don’t most countries deny entry to someone with a felony conviction. Seems that we have denied entry under similar circumstances before.
February 24, 2026 @ 11:19 am
You are mixing a music symbols crescendo () with mathematical symbols greater than (>) and less than ( 5 lbs.
However, in writing, the unknown just get’s left out and is assumed.
Charley had something that was > 5 lbs.
Your logic is right your musical universe (crescendo to the larger amount), but doesn’t translate for written math communication!
February 26, 2026 @ 10:39 am
x > 5 lbs
February 26, 2026 @ 3:55 am
I prosecuted that case. It was a felony marijuana possession charge. There are a lot of issues involved in that case and it certainly didn’t involve a weed distribution ring. It occurred before Virginia decriminalized marijuana although it would still be a felony under the circumstances of that particular incident.
Given all he has done since that day, and all he has contributed to Virginia and music, looking at people who have been pardoned at the Federal and state level, Charley should have the chance to move forward. I’ve reached out to see if I could help, although I cannot do much personally given my involvement in the case.
February 23, 2026 @ 11:40 am
As a Washington State resident this sounds about right. If you had a single DUI twenty years ago you can’t get into Canada.
February 23, 2026 @ 11:59 am
As some have pointed out, Jelly Roll has been allowed to tour Canada though he’s been to jail/prison 30 times, and has multiple violent felony convictions.
There is a very, very ordered and vetted way these international tours are booked. I’m sure the first time Crockett wanted to tour Canada, they had to reach out to embassies for dispensations and to get the paperwork in order. That happened, because he was allowed entry on multiple occasions. I don’t know if they double checked this time, but I do know that sometimes you’re at the whim of whoever is on duty at the border crossing, and how they feel about the matter. And once you’re denied at one crossing, that’s going to be flagged across the system, and they won’t allow you entry anywhere.
The law says what it says. But to engage in commerce in a different country, they paperwork is different, and so is the vetting process. This issue here is the gross inconsistency.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:36 pm
Convicted felon, Jelly Roll is pals with Prince Harry.
He gets into Canada on special orders of the Crown.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:30 pm
Prince Harry will be lucky if they let HIM into Canada–or England for that matter.
He’s not the guy you want to have vouch for you. Unless your only other choice is “(not so) Prince” Andrew.
February 25, 2026 @ 1:12 pm
Big Jim
I must say, your brain is really weighing you down.
Jelly Roll, and Charley are examples of the exceptions that Canada DOES make for performing artists.
If Charley had that blow-up at the border this time, the chance that is a controversy involving the Government acting arbitrarily against him, or the Royals for that matter, is nil.
Tilt at windmills and be seen as foolish.
February 24, 2026 @ 5:59 am
Stop deleting my comments you inbred. Your shit doesn’t make sense. If I don’t tell you about it, how are you gonna know?
February 24, 2026 @ 8:09 am
BadassMF,
None of your comments were “deleted.” They were sent to moderation because they all included cuss words/insults. Then I deleted many of them because you were going off on down-looking screeds as opposed to contributing to the conversation.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:34 pm
Yup, Vancouver especially. First time I got my Canadian work permit ( had a minor DUI) I was advised to to fly to Calgary instead of driving to Vancouver. “Well the drinking age is 18 in Alberta, so you would have been fine here. Welcome to Canada Son”
Too bad for Charley.
February 24, 2026 @ 5:52 am
I’ve known this for years.
February 23, 2026 @ 11:44 am
It’s stupid, but no more stupid than Canadians being turned back at the border after admitting they once smoked weed when border guards ask, “Have you ever done drugs, even smoked a joint?”
We live in bizarro world. 😂
February 23, 2026 @ 11:55 am
Canada is very, very strict. If you had a DUI 50 years ago, they will not let you in. Because they think that you will come into their country. And have a drink and kill somebody. They’re very strict. If you’re ill like you come through the airport on crutches or with a cane, they will ask you for your medical insurance to make sure that you are covered.That way, if you get ill in canada, you don’t use their money
February 23, 2026 @ 11:57 am
Canada also requires people to be able to speak either French or English to become citizens. Despite Canada’s reputation, it’s not an immigration free for all. The U.S. public school system is now absolutely full of students who don’t either speak or understand English – much less their parents – but U.S. taxpayers are still required to foot the bill. In my state, average cost per student was over $17,000 a year, and that was five years ago. That’s a lot of money to someone like me.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:34 pm
Just for the record the US Citizenship exam also requires you to speak and write English (as the final three questions, 2 verbal one written) are written in English and must be replied to in English, the only exceptions being if youre over the age of 55 and have been a LPR for 20 years, or if you have a physical impairment that requires you to use sign language instead. Those are the exact same age limits on the Canadian test as well…
February 23, 2026 @ 4:47 pm
I find it ironic that non-citizens have more access to the money generated by my labor than I do. Logically, shouldn’t it be the other way around?
February 23, 2026 @ 5:31 pm
Thats also demonstrable false, noncitizen immigrants comprise about 7 percent of the US population and consumed just 3.5 percent of all welfare and entitlement benefits. In short in a year a non citizen immigrant consumes 54% less tax generated resources than a U.S citizen. (This is from a 2022 study by the Cato Institute)
February 23, 2026 @ 6:21 pm
The true number of noncitizen immigrants in 2026 is unknown. The Cato Institute is not a reliable or official source. The Pew Research Center says 15.4% as of 2025, as an estimate. Even if 7% of the U.S. population is true, that is almost one in ten people in the country. In reality, it’s more than that. I was talking specifically about the financial burden of noncitizens on the public education system, not general “welfare” cost – especially considering most would be completely unable to pass the basic citizenship test if it were offered to them.
That being said, here is what U.S House of Representatives officially announced in in 2024,
“Illegal immigrants make extensive use of welfare. Based on government data, we estimate that 59 percent of households headed by illegal immigrants use one or more major welfare programs, compared to 39 percent of households headed by the U.S.-born.”
And
“Illegal immigrants have a negative fiscal impact — taxes paid minus benefits received —
primarily because a large share have modest levels of education, resulting in relatively
low average incomes and tax payments, along with significant use of means-tested
programs and other government services.”
And
“Using the National Academies’ estimate of immigrants’ net fiscal impact by education
level, we estimate that the lifetime fiscal drain (taxes paid minus costs) for each illegal
immigrant is about $68,000”
And
“Based on their use rate of major welfare programs, we estimate that illegal immigrants
receive $42 billion in benefits, or about 4 percent of the total cost of the cash, Medicaid,
food and housing programs examined in our study. However, this is only a rough
approximation due to limitations in the data.”
February 23, 2026 @ 6:35 pm
Folks, this is going out-of-bounds from the original story, and veering into very divisive political subjects. Let’s please just keep the discussion about Charley Crockett and this specific circumstance. Thank you.
February 24, 2026 @ 12:30 pm
Trigger, I used to come to your website to discover new country music, that’s how I discovered and kept coming back to your website. Now it seems that many of your posts and especially the comments are focused on politics and tabloid type stories. I know these probably generate a lot of traffic and get people to comment but could you be more focused on the music? I go to music to get Away from the political stuff. I’m sure a lot of other people feel the same. Just my thoughts.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:02 pm
Trigger, you said this action by Canada was “punitive.” Is Charley being singled out for some reason, or is this just the policy for Canada? Or maybe it’s a policy that is randomly enforced and it was just Charley’s turn in the barrel this time.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:21 pm
Charley Crockett is booked by CAA, which is a massive talent agency that has entire divisions dedicated to working through the logistics of international touring and travel. I keep seeing people talking about how you can’t cross into Canada if you have a DUI. Charley Crockett is crossing the border with a semi truck and two massive tour vans. It is a huge financial expenditure just to get all this to the border, let along have it be inspected and cross it. All this stuff is worked out logistically many months in advance, including supplying the names and passport information of everyone on the crew, most importantly Charley Crockett, especially since he has a felony on his record.
Charley Crockett has already toured Canada five or six times. There’s a whole dispensation process for entertainers to go through to make sure they get in okay. I don’t know for a fact that this all has to do with someone who had a bad day and decided to put their foot down at the border for the big American entertainer. But it sure feels that way. It’s that, or someone at CAA or Charley’s management didn’t do their job to double check everything would be okay.
Either way, someone at the border could have looked at the situation and said, “Is this guy really a threat to society? Let’s let him in to play his stupid country shows like he’s done many times before without incident, and warn them to double check their paperwork next time before assuming entry.” Charley Crockett is not going to commit violent felonies in Canada, and he’s not trying to immigrate.
February 23, 2026 @ 6:31 pm
You are missing some very important points here: CC’s Touring equipment, bus and such may belong to CC, but clearly other folks with no prior’s drove them across. Just because CC may own some of these tools of his trade, these inanimate objects are not CC.
Most importantly, CC’s Manager or booking agency absolutely dropped the ball. Full stop. As did CC. Everyone knows that for both Canada, and the US, there is heightened scrutiny around all of our past transgressions. And that means all of us. A simple call to an Immigration Lawyer would have quickly identified there could be possible problems for CC sooner or later. Well here we are.
What no one seems to be commenting on is how naive CC was to try and enter Canada again in Kelowna after being refused in Vancouver. This is not the far Arctic Tundra up here. Of course all Canadian Border Crossings have computers. The worst thing you could ever do is to try again after being refused at another nearby Canadian Port of Entry. Which makes me wonder who exactly advises CC?
February 23, 2026 @ 8:03 pm
Totally agree that trying to cross twice was a bad move for Charley, and might affect his ability to return to Canada eventually. Side note: I have crossed into Canada before from Washington State driving to Alaska, and all the folks told us to cross at Kelowna as opposed to Vancouver. We still got harassed, searched, delayed for probably two hours, but eventually got in, and this was in the early ’00s.
I totally understand that Charley Crockett’s touring equipment and merch is a completely different thing compared to a person with a felony. I’m just saying that if you’re going to try and get across the border with a semi truck and tour buses, you’ve probably gone through some logistical preparation, including the immigration process for Charley. I’m just surprised that CAA, or whoever was handling the logistics here would do absolutely nothing to make sure Crockett could get across too. But maybe that’s what happened. But I also know that ultimately it can be up to the discretion of whoever is standing in the guard shack at that time, and if they decide you’re not getting in, you’re not getting in. I don’t know what happened here. I’m looking into it further.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:12 pm
A lot of this falls on Crockett’s tour management and their Canadian counterparts for not getting this sorted before the tour.
There are many avenues for those with criminal offenses to enter Canada, but it is my (limited) understanding that you need to apply for before entry each time you try to go to Canada under a TRP. With Crockett’s case, he would need a Temporary Resident Permit since he is not eligible for “rehabilitation” yet.
They (management and their Canadian counterparts) should have been working on this for months to avoid being denied entry.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:23 pm
Finally, some objective, fact-based explanations on this matter that manage without silly ice hockey connections. Thank you.
February 23, 2026 @ 12:44 pm
What’s wrong with making fun of them and their ice hockey?
February 23, 2026 @ 1:36 pm
Hehe they lost… try hards (seriously, who refuses to stay in the athletes village during the Olympics???)
February 23, 2026 @ 1:40 pm
I think it’s wrong to connect the issue of Charley Crockett’s entry ban with the hockey game.
Whether it’s wrong to make fun of a losing team is something everyone has to decide for themselves.
If I were a citizen of a country whose president has repeatedly questioned the national sovereignty and integrity of the losing team’s country and who posts incredibly crude videos of himself beating up the losing team’s players, I wouldn’t make fun of the losing team out of decency. But of course, everyone is free to do so.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:01 pm
Good grief.
No wonder you Europeans needed America to save you from the Nazis and Commies.
February 23, 2026 @ 4:03 pm
I hate our president as much as anyone else. I’m still able to set aside my feelings for him when it comes to cheering for our sports teams and making fun of opponents.
February 23, 2026 @ 6:22 pm
If it wasn’t a procedural screw up by Charlie’s management team it could be some lower-level Canadian “sticking it” to the US for tariffs by banning him.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:35 pm
At least we arent trying to tie everything to the grammys or superbowl on here any more
February 23, 2026 @ 1:47 pm
Made my day!🤭
February 23, 2026 @ 1:36 pm
I just can’t imagine a scenario where there wasn’t an effort expended beforehand by Charley Crockett’s massive booking agency CAA to make sure Charley, a semi truck and multiple tour buses driven all the way to Canada from Texas would be allowed entry to Canada, especially since he’s toured Canada multiple times before. Of course that happened, especially in the current environment. And if it didn’t, someone should be fired.
I will say that Charley Crockett is notorious for running through managers like pairs of socks, NOT booking agents (CAA), but business managers. Did some bit of paperwork that need to be filled out not get filled out? That’s a possibility. But I can’t imagine they let a semi truck in with Charley Crockett’s name on it but don’t let Charley Crockett in unless something went horribly wrong.
February 24, 2026 @ 6:29 am
That’s what I was thinking. Agents get their cut by making sure that everything is done to make sure their artist’s tour runs smoothly. Knowing that your client has past legal problems should make the agent extra careful that every detail is taken care of so that the artist can get to the gig without delays. It sounds like someone at CAA dropped the ball and I won’t be surprised if they get sued by Charley Inc.
February 23, 2026 @ 5:14 pm
This is accurate.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:04 pm
This feels like a publicity stunt by Cuck to prove he’s an outlaw.
Per the comments on his social media, he’s played Canada plenty of times in the past. And many musicians with felonies are chiming in saying they’ve been able to tour in Canada. And like previously mentioned, his management could have had this easily squared away months ago.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:27 pm
This is interesting. I looked it up and he played a bunch of dates in Canada in 2023.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:33 pm
Charlie loves spinning narratives.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:49 pm
Trigger loves propping up Charlie’s narratives
February 23, 2026 @ 1:40 pm
Posting the denial of entry paperwork was definitely a play for Outlaw cred.
I just don’t see doing all of this as a publicity stunt though. This is a financial boondoggle for Charley Crockett and everyone involved. He didn’t drive all the way from Texas to Seattle without expecting to cross over into Canada to play more show promoting his upcoming album. Whatever he might gain in publicity he pays for out the nose by not being able to play eight shows, and hauling a semi truck and multiple tour buses to Canada and back for naught.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:19 pm
I’m from Canada and a friend saw Crockett a year or two in Toronto… This is either very bad luck or perhaps politics.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:30 pm
Obviously Canada is a racist country for not allowing a clearly black musician to perform.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:10 pm
Absolutely false. Canada is “racist” because it won’t allow a “Black” artist to perform in Canada?. You know better than to make such an ignorant blatant statement like that. Nobody is above the law in Canada and the United States. Absolutely not funny!.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:40 pm
Let me guess, Big Bang Theory is your favorite comedy TV show?
February 23, 2026 @ 1:30 pm
Curious why he didn’t call Canada thuggish and oppressors….
February 23, 2026 @ 1:36 pm
All his political heroes love Canada.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:39 pm
Hey Trigger, for your information George Strait has been inducted into the Texas Heritage Song Writers Association and the Hall of Fame in February 21st, 2026. This is news worth passing along to the George Strait’s loyal fans who frequent and/or used to frequent your blog like me. May Go continue to bless George Strait and family, amen.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:00 pm
Yes, I published an article about this recently:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/george-strait-miranda-lambert-to-receive-songwriting-honor-in-texas/
I was unable to attend the event.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:40 pm
I saw him a few years ago in Toronto at Massey Hall!
February 23, 2026 @ 1:40 pm
I agree that if you were just or still are on probation for a felony drug charge (>5 is more than 5 pounds, trig) you’re likely to be denied entry to most if not all countries in the world (and I know the “but Biden let in millions of criminals” response already, yeah yeah we get it). This should have been on management to better due their due diligence before heading up there.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:05 pm
The problem is that Charley Crockett has toured Canada multiple times before. And Charley Crockett is also not some dude in a Corolla trying to go across the border for some Ketchup flavored potato chips. He’s literally driving a small town across the border in a semi and multiple buses. The semi made it across. Charley didn’t. Either they duffed the paperwork this time, or someone was having a band day and wanted to make an example.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:43 pm
I saw Charley’s Canadian debut in Toronto in 2023 and he’s played here frequently since then. I can’t imagine this was anything delibertate on the part of the Canadian government. I’d suggest this is US Immigration interfering over his Bad Bunny/Trump smackdown Insta post.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:08 pm
“I’d suggest this is US Immigration interfering over his Bad Bunny/Trump smackdown Insta post.”
I’m not sure what’s going on here, but I’m 100% that is not the case.
February 23, 2026 @ 5:25 pm
Not gonna get into an argument with you Kyle, since I appreciate your support for my artists, but don’t tell me that any celeb who publicly insults DT doesn’t face immediate consequences from his goons in all govt agencies however they can manage to do it.
February 23, 2026 @ 6:17 pm
I’ll add that this story made national headlines today in Canada. Stuff like this just doesn’t happen here to musicians with a profile. I mean, how hard would it have been for someone in US Immigration to make a call to Canadian Immigration and say “don’t let this guy in'”?
February 23, 2026 @ 10:04 pm
Never say never I guess. I just don’t think that people in the Trump Administration are thinking enough about Charley Crockett to care, nor are they organized enough to be forward thinking to call in a favor with the Canadians. Either someone in the Charley Crockett camp duffed this, or some border guard was having a bad day, and decided to take it out on the flashy Texan with a felony.
February 24, 2026 @ 9:49 am
President Trump doesn’t care about some two-bit Texan artist.
Quit deflecting blame. Canada is responsible for this situation.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:49 pm
As someone from Canada, it’s all about connections. Mid to lower tier metal bands have issues all the time getting into Canada because of prior DUI or weed convictions.
Sometimes they get in, sometimes they don’t.
If you are higher level, you can get a lawyer involved to easily resolve it but it’s pricey (WWE has done this for multiple wrestlers).
But Trigger, we beat you in Olympic hockey for like 30 years don’t be a fucking dick and attack Canada because of one idiotic border issue.
Makes me want to stop reading your blog if you are going to be a fucking flag sucking douchebag.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:10 pm
Oh calm down, I was just making a stupid joke. I’ve been to Canada many times and regularly tout Canadian artists here.
February 23, 2026 @ 6:50 pm
It’s not the fact of what the drug was or if it’s legal now in canada.its the fact he has a criminal record.Canada doesn’t just let people run free across the border.right wrong or indifferent.if he got in before it’s because they missed it.but really who wants to tour Canada in the winter.
February 23, 2026 @ 10:06 pm
Charley Crockett got in five times previously because there are procedures that allow entertainers with criminal records to still perform in Canada if they go through the proper channels. He didn’t get in this time because either the paperwork was not done right, or a border cop was having a bad day and decided to make an example.
February 24, 2026 @ 12:44 pm
Huh. Interesting.
Wonder if that there Stanley Cup has a criminal record?
February 23, 2026 @ 1:51 pm
This is why the likes of Haggard, Coe and Paycheck seldom toured outside of the US.
Very few countries are willing to let you cross the border (legally) if you are convicted of certain felonies/crimes.
That’s life, and we must all live with the consequences of our choices.
February 23, 2026 @ 1:57 pm
I like Charlie Crockett and all and I don’t really think he should be denied entry to Canada but this article makes it sound like he was convicted of smoking a joint. He was convicted of possession of 5lbs or more with intent to distribute. Now you can say what you want about legalization but the decision to make that a felony coviction was on Virginia not on Canada. Could you imagine this conversation being played out if this were a Venezuelan rapper being turned away at the US border for a felony conviction in his country for intent to sell drugs? How many people would be clamoring against our border policy then?
February 23, 2026 @ 2:16 pm
“this article makes it sound like he was convicted of smoking a joint.”
That’s not what this article says at all. It goes into detail how Charley Crockett was convicted of a felony for marijuana distribution. It includes the image of Charley Crockett’s denial letter at the Canadian border that verifies this. It talks about how Crockett is still on probation until March 22nd.
What I have seen is a bunch of people on social media reacting to the headline without reading the article and then reacting. That’s not my fault. I can’t control that. Read the article. Then react.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:14 pm
I know someone who was flagged and given a bunch of grief over a DUI from 15+ years ago for a layover in Canada on the way to Alaska. Sometimes the administrative state becomes far too self-important for their own good.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:31 pm
You know, if Willie was ten years younger, I would actually suggest that he do this just to get stopped. After Willie would be denied entry into Canada, this would all end really quickly. But it’s not exactly fair to put him up to this at his age.
February 23, 2026 @ 2:54 pm
Realistically – he got lucky that he got into Canada the previous times. This falls completely on him and/or his management – get your paperwork in order and it would not have been an issue. Still on probation? Have a previous criminal record? Guess what – if the Canadian Border finds out you won’t be allowed entry (unless you’ve done the correct paperwork – sometimes a bond is required). Same goes for entering the USA (and the US border guards like to ask questions like “have you ever in your life smoked a joint?” – answer “yes” and guess what – you don’t get to cross, no arrest, no conviction etc.)
February 23, 2026 @ 3:21 pm
Is this a Virginia offense (not Federal)? If so, could the governor of Virginia pardon Charley? Seems that might solve the problem.
February 24, 2026 @ 6:00 am
A pardon will still show up during an extensive background check. So even if you’re pardoned, you’re not clean at all. Canada – or Texas, or Oregon, or Iraq – could say “no entry” with the law in their hand.
February 24, 2026 @ 8:13 am
Even if you have all your paperwork together, and you have pre-authoriztion to enter the country legally like you have done five times before, it’s still is up to the discretion of whoever you interact with at the border to let you in. Is this what happened with Crockett? Or did he not have his paperwork together? This is the fundamental question.
February 24, 2026 @ 12:01 pm
Sure, it could be as easy as encountering a dedicated non-fan at the border, I suppose.
Those officers are human beings too.
February 23, 2026 @ 4:10 pm
If his conviction was for meth they would have let him in at Kelowna
February 23, 2026 @ 4:18 pm
One of my best friends was banned from Canada for a decade because of a speeding ticket. He had to hire a lawyer and petition to be allowed back in. They finally agreed so long as he stipulated he would not drive.
To me the issue here is why his booking agent didn’t vet this before booking the dates. Everyone knows Canada won’t let anyone in for minor offenses.
I mean, Canadian packys charge extra for cold beer. And their national hockey teams suck. You can’t trust Canada with anything. 😉
February 23, 2026 @ 4:24 pm
Feels like a vital piece of information is missing in this article – when did Crockett last tour Canada? Was it pre-“51st State” language or post?
Also – I’m not sure why Crockett’s barbs against Trump are considered “strange”.
Trump did dodge the draft. And he did bankrupt a Casino.
A “strange criticism” of the President would be his choice of ties or saying he is incompetent to be Commander in Chief because he likes Diet Coke and McDonalds. Trump “Richie Riching” his way out of the draft and bankrupting a Casino feels like pretty fair criticisms all things considered.
February 23, 2026 @ 4:56 pm
According to Setlist.fm, Charley Crockett has performed in Canada at least 19 different times, crossing over into Canada on numerous occasions. He played a 7-date tour in Canada in July of 2023. He then returned to Canada later in the year on August 18th to perform at Lasso Montreal. He then played a 7-date tour in May of 2024, and then returned again to Canada to play Festival d’été de Québec in July. He returned to Canada again on August 28th, 2025 as part of his “The Crooner and The Cowboy” tour with Leon Bridges.
I will add this information to the article. By this count, Charley Crockett would have needed to be cleared through customs on five separate occasions, each time doing so successfully. This is why all the people saying, “They won’t let you into Canada with a DUI” are not really being helpful. If you’ve done something successfully five times, you’re likely to believe the sixth won’t be an issue. And since we know his semi-truck made it into Canada, we know the logistical hurdles you have to jump through to plan a Canadian tour must have been accomplished, at least to some extent.
February 23, 2026 @ 5:00 pm
As for the “strange criticism” comment, a lot of people gave Charley Crockett credit for standing up against Trumup’s immigration policies. When Crockett posted his comment, the big narrative was how musicians were coming out against ICE. But Crockett didn’t say anything about ICE, immigrants, the American experience, or anything else related. Instead he used stock criticisms of Trump that didn’t really address the matter at all. The reason I included that in the context of this article is because people are criticizing Crockett for being hypocritical for complaining about strong border rules, and then becoming a victim of them. But Crockett never really did that.
February 24, 2026 @ 8:35 am
Crockett opened himself up to this type of criticism when he decided to become political. It was a bad move on his part. I like him but anyone who uses the “34 felonies” line is exposing their ignorance. There are many things you can criticize Trump on besides that make believe bullshit.
February 24, 2026 @ 10:46 am
If you believe the justice system is just “make believe,” are you saying juries, judges, and due process only count when you agree with the outcome?
Once Crockett stepped into politics, he absolutely opened himself up to criticism — that’s part of the game. But dismissing 34 felony convictions as “fake” just because you don’t like the phrase doesn’t make them disappear. You can argue they were politically motivated, you can argue they were overcharged — but pretending they don’t exist isn’t a serious position.
And sure, there are plenty of other ways to criticize Trump. But calling legally obtained convictions “make believe” isn’t exposing ignorance — it’s ignoring reality.
February 23, 2026 @ 4:43 pm
Does anyone need to see this former drug dealer that bad?
February 24, 2026 @ 6:01 pm
Canada has no one better to see than Charley Crockett?
February 27, 2026 @ 12:32 pm
We sure do. Try The Trews, Northern Pikes, Barney Bentall and Legendary Hearts I could go on FOREVER. We don’t need Charlie Crockett.
February 23, 2026 @ 6:31 pm
Do you let felons into your country?
February 24, 2026 @ 9:47 am
Every country but America is allowed to ban felons.
February 23, 2026 @ 6:50 pm
It doesn’t matter if he was allowed in before, it doesn’t change the law. And the law is if you have a conviction you can be turned away. Just like if you were let off for speeding doesn’t mean you have a license to speed now whenever you want.
If he wants to apply to have his conviction expunged then he does so through the state where he was convicted, not at the border.
February 23, 2026 @ 8:07 pm
I think it probably matters some that Charley Crockett has successfully crossed the border into Canada five times in the last three years, including in August when he was on tour with Leon Bridges. International touring and people with criminal backgrounds is something that happens every single day. It’s an integral part of the music business. I’m not saying that whatever hoops Charley had to jump through previous were jumped through here. Maybe someone dropped the ball. But the outlier is not the five times he got into the country (if not more). It’s the one time he didn’t after having gone there five times, and proved he wasn’t going to be a problem.
February 23, 2026 @ 7:37 pm
Come on. Dig a bit deeper. He’s had no recent problems getting in. MAYBE his team is clueless and let him down or MAYBE he can’t sell tickets and this was a convenient way to bend the narrative like he always does.
February 25, 2026 @ 1:16 pm
Like him or not he just played two sold out shows in Seattle. He has a following and no problems selling tickets. So that narrative does not work.
February 23, 2026 @ 8:11 pm
So the most liberal country in the hemisphere enforces borders and restricts access of their resources to foreigners? Any comments from the blue haired constituency?
February 23, 2026 @ 9:44 pm
In November Jake Worthington was denied access at the border. He was scheduled to open for Zach Top in Vancouver. I think it’s all about not being prepared and having the correct paperwork that allows them to enter after having charges in their past. Morgan Wallen and Steve Earle your Canada, Earle on a regular basis and he like Jellyroll server time
February 23, 2026 @ 11:12 pm
I was one of the first people to find out about this cancellation, about 15 minutes before doors in Vancouver. Caught venue staff totally off guard. I assumed it wasn’t a border issue because he’s played Vancouver the last three years. Ticked off because I paid hundreds in ferry and accommodations to see him. Hope this isn’t gonna become a norm for touring acts in Canada.
February 24, 2026 @ 1:30 am
I suppose his conviction is for distribution and not simple possession so it is a more serious conviction. Very strange if that is the only reason he was refused entry when he has been there many times in the past. Paperwork not in order?
February 24, 2026 @ 5:10 am
Yet another example in the column of “weed is for degenerate losers.”
And yeah there is a difference in smoking some weed (which is degenerate and anti-life) and trafficking 10 lbs to sell it to kids when it’s against the law in said time and place. It shows willingness to abide criminal behavior. Canada did the right thing.
Also, the performative, hyperbolic, blood and soil nationalism for sports ball is cringe and graiting and senseless when you would never do it for anything that truly matters. Isn’t Canada’s big thing is that they are a “post national state” who belongs to anybody that decides they are Canadian and gets a piece of paper? It makes no sense to be nationalistic for the US or Canada if we’re working towards both countries becomes Greater India. Just an observation.
February 24, 2026 @ 9:48 am
Well said.
Both America and Canada are selling out their heritage.
February 24, 2026 @ 7:13 am
Canada is a complete shitshow, born and raised here and been under the leadership of snowflake ldtgwd40 douche canoes for too long. What a huge loss, there were many of us looking forward to seeing Mr. Crockett.
February 24, 2026 @ 10:01 am
Somewhere out there a manager or tour manager should be fired. Incompetence and lack of situational awareness. Hate to see it.
February 24, 2026 @ 10:20 am
American liberals finding out that Canada has a border, border policies and border enforcement will never stop being funny.
And greater than (>) 5 pounds of weed is A LOT of weed.
February 24, 2026 @ 11:18 am
The absolute gall you morons have to whine about another country having laws and enforcing them legally is this peak brand of American stupidity we have come to expect. All the while, your fecal pile of a president is running lawless with your own immigration army.
Also, he could have simply written a letter to them asking for access in exchange for the promise not to bring distribution weight illegal drugs into Canada. (And before you whine aboit how weed is legal, it wasnt when he caught his charges at home. He has a felony drug possession conviction. The drug doesnt matter.)
February 24, 2026 @ 3:33 pm
Hopefully Charley can cross later this year so I can see him here in Windsor,Ont.,for the first time.(And this ol’ Canadian boy will take losing the Hockey Gold Medal to you folk ANY OL’ TIME than being governed by 45 and 47!!!)
February 24, 2026 @ 6:27 pm
Lots of people commenting on here have absolutely no clue about what they are talking about.
I saw CC here in Montreal in 23. Big fan. I am a Canadian and US citizen and have crossed the border more times than I can count. I have friends on BOTH side of the border that have felonies, just like CC. You NEED A ‘WAIVER” to cross, PERIOD. Steve Earle is up here all the time. I bet CCs waiver ran out and that was it, Nobody including him did not check the expire date. I bet he will never admit to this either.
Also, things have changed big time since your prez has been bashing Canada. Both sides of the border have changed for the worse. Did the US citizens know that the US border agents are taking our photos and checking social media back FIVE YEARS, or they wont let Canadians in ?? This is a real thing now. Bashing the Canadian border agents is ridiculous. Generally speaking they are pretty easy on US citizens coming in, as long as everything is in order.
February 24, 2026 @ 6:36 pm
Yep. I got 2 DUIs back in the 1900s. Haven’t had a drop since 2001, but I’m not allowed up there…found out the hard way…
February 25, 2026 @ 8:18 am
Trigger,
Music is suppose to bring us together not divide us. The title of this thread is divisive and ridiculous. Canada has laws just like any other country. You think we have to drop our laws for a US country singer who does not have his papers in order ?
I think not.
February 25, 2026 @ 8:46 am
Dog-River,
I appreciate the sentiment that music should bring us together. Charley Crockett tried to cross the border to bring some cross-cultural exchange to Canada and was denied at the border. I don’t know why that is. It very well could be that he did not have his paperwork together. It could be that they recently strengthened the border restrictions due to tensions or requests from the United States. It could be someone at the border saw a reason they could deny him even though he’s been over the border five times including as recently as last August, and decided to be a dick. Either way, it did not happen.
I have been very consistent over the years criticizing arrests and prosecutions over marijuana in any quantity. Here are some more examples:
https://savingcountrymusic.com/jamey-johnsons-drug-possession-arrest-revealed-as-felony-level-marijuana/
https://savingcountrymusic.com/teddy-gentry-arrest-is-embarrassment-for-state-not-alabama/
https://savingcountrymusic.com/darius-rucker-arrested-on-possession-charges/
I have people yelling at me about this article from both sides of the border, and both sides of the political divide. If I had to write this article again, I probably would write it differently. But I would still assert my disappointment that someone who clearly is not a menace to society and not trying immigrate can’t get into Canada to play some silly country shows. I would also assert my disappointment that we’re still impinging on people’s freedoms over pot, on both sides of the border. Like you said, all of this keeps us from being able to bring people together via music.
February 25, 2026 @ 5:30 pm
This a comment from a friend who works there.
Just read your link now.
Relieved to hear he’s not a pro Trump guy cuz that’d make Canada look like doofuses.
This way it’s border guys acting like redneck border guys which is a lot of them.
On either side.
If he was pro Trump and got denied that would look too libtardy.
March 3, 2026 @ 7:25 pm
Ironic to be wanting country music to be a plac fro bring people closer together on a review of Charley’s arrest. ,Charley is not a figure of peace or compassion. He’s divisive, he’s a liar and he’s a fraud. He rants about trump voters and he rants about the biggest artists of his and all of our generation Morgan wallen, with thinly vieled grievance and woke rants that don’t hide his jealousy of being a boring and void of meaning artist who sells poorly, writes poorly and is a poor mans carbon copy of the greats in our genre. What’s the saying, those who can’t do….sing off brand knockoff classic country.
Charley isn’t interested in uniting the country music world nor is he interested in the larger project of Uniting the human race, he’s deeply partisan, openly divisive, and nakedly egotistical. He was given his chosen boy status because he’s a diversity hire. Country music is a genre of originals, singular and gigantic and interesting characters who scarcely seem like they were real people: giants like Cash, Hag, Coe, Strait, McGraw. Only one of these peoples exist.
Instead of being an original and letting the world hear and see someone unique with a singular point of view and sound, Charley opted to become the equivalent of country music Muzak, wallpaper music. And thus he’s deeply bitter others who are innovators. Legends and heroes in our genre like Morgan, are wealthier than he will ever be, more famous than he will ever be, has more number ones on one album than Charley will ever have in his entire career and Morgan has more integrity than Charley will ever have. Charley isn’t Charley, I don’t know Charley, he’s never let him appear in his albums songs or music videos. He’s engaging in a country blackface essentially. He’s cosplaying. He’s acting how his idols on classic songs acted. That’s not being unique, that’s being a robot, an automaton. He’s a copy of a copy of a copy of a….
Morgan by contrasts has always been himself. Love him or hate him. He is always himself and he’s authentic. Literally. His first album has a song The Way I Talk, and he sings “man it ain’t my fault, i just live the way I talk”. He does.
Morgan is authentic, Charley is a fake. Morgan makes music adored by millions, Charley is a fringe figure, Morgan is a hitmaker the likes of which few of us in his generation has ever seen, Charley not only doesn’t make popular songs he doesn’t make hits in general.
Charley is a woke moron. And I absolutely loathe him. I don’t want him in my genre.
February 25, 2026 @ 9:19 am
Canada border agents are required to take the American criminal act and equate it to Canadian laws to determine admissibillity.
In the States, there’s misdemeanors or felonies. In Canada it’s indictable offences vs non-indictable.
Arrest for possession of so much weed in Canada is an indictable offense which will make one inadmissible going forward.
Yes, legitimate visitors, especially performing artists, can get waivers but like you all say, FAFO. If your paperwork is insufficient you can and likely will be denied.
Btw, A DUI is a very serous indictable offense in Canada, for what it’s worth. It’s something Canada has drawn a line under on purpose.
If CC has such a conviction, (drug possesion with possible intent to distribute), he’s got his work cut out for him to live this down. Border agents have standards and will catch a reprimand if they don’t do their duty.
Also, if Trump wasn’t such a malevolent twat, then all these peripheral arguments and insults wouldn’t happen. He started with threats and insults and then moved to attacks. He is 75% of the problem.
Canadians have their share of Xenophobia but Trump has scapegoated everyone that aren’t WASPs.
Loudmouth ignoramus comments regarding Olympic games are not usefull or welcome. The entire point of the Olympics is to bring nations together and share in the joy of competition leaving politcal division behind. It’s about shared humanity, not humiliation. To use the Ice Hockey gold win as a cudgel for political division is reprehensible.
One artist blowing his tour is inevitably on him and his management. It goes both ways. Entering Canada as a foreigner is a priviledge and subject to much regulation, welcome to the world outside the US.
February 25, 2026 @ 12:07 pm
I would add, Charley might want to hire this guy’s lawyer.
https://www.ctvnews.ca/vancouver/article/man-caught-with-drugs-in-luggage-at-vancouver-airport-believed-he-had-lost-them-bc-court-hears/
March 3, 2026 @ 5:25 pm
Ultimately I think he deserved this and I feel no empathy towards him. For one because of his extreme and moronic political views and views towards Morgan wallen, but also his rank hipocrosy. If you criticize the government or ice, expect to get a reaction. Sow the wind reap the whirlwind.
But also it makes me question his intelligence, as he’s probably low iq. How does one travel for a loving and not look up and understand the laws of other countries one visits? For example if you are a musician traveling from America to Saudi Arabia, would it be wise of me to smuggle in drugs? No, probably not. And if I got arrested because of it, it’s my own fault. You saw this play out tragically a decade ago with that American college kid Otto warmbier who traveled to North Korea on a class trip, and went to a floor in the hotel he wasnt supposed to and defaced or stole a photo on the wall. North Korea is unbelievably strict in how they run their country (you can’t walk outside hotels at foreigners without approval), he was arrested for this, and either given some drugs, or tortured or something, he was held by the NK govt and then freed and he ended up dying either on the plane ride home or in the hospital when he got home.
Obviously him dying is outrageous and a crime, but he also played too close to the sun. If you visit North Korea or Canada you have to know the rules. If you break those rules you will be punished. I’m not saying he deserved his punishment, he didn’t but he absolutely deserved to be arrested if that’s their laws. Same with Crockett, he was ignorant (about laws and politics generally) and he paid the price. I have no empathy towards him, at all.
March 4, 2026 @ 2:42 pm
Hey Trigger
I wonder if you haven’t been plagiarised?
https://www.thetravel.com/us-customs-and-border-protection-gets-taste-of-its-own-medicine-american-singer-is-denied-entry-into-canada-over-a-conviction-from-a-decade-ago/
If you read down through the end of the comments you might see what I mean.