Sammy Kershaw Calls Out the CMA For Not Allowing Him on the Red Carpet

Sammy Kershaw is one of country music’s most beloved living legends. He might have never had his moment at the very top of the heap, but he’s put a strong country career together including seven Top 5 hits, and fifteen Top 20s, including signature songs “She Don’t Think She’s Beautiful” and “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer.”

Sammy certainly paid his dues, and has continued to carry the torch of country music now into his late ’60s. His name is brought up whenever talk gravitates to the Country Music Hall of Fame. And along with being relevant and influential in his era, time has been kind to the catalog of Sammy Kershaw. He’s one of the reasons ’90s country has seen a resurgence in recent years.

That is why Kershaw and his fans are up in arms that he apparently has been disallowed from walking the red carpet this year at the 2026 CMA Awards coming up on November 18th in Nashville. In a post on social media Thursday evening (11-5), the Louisiana native pulled no punches, and put a spotlight on the type of prejudice many older performers face in the industry.

Well, I just found out some disappointing news and it really hurts me. I have to share my disappointment with the CMA as they have denied my request to walk the red carpet for a few minutes at this year’s CMA Awards, and I have to say I’m pretty sad about it.

My wife, Mendy, and I don’t get to attend these events very often, due to touring and schedule conflicts. After adjusting my touring schedule, booking our flights and hotels, she was really looking forward to us sharing a special evening together celebrating country music. Then, to find out I was denied the red carpet two weeks before the show, after being strung along for several months and expecting we would be attending, WTF?

After more than 50 years in this business, many millions of records and singles streamed and sold, more than two dozen Billboard charted hits, a CMA Horizon Award nomination, being a lifetime CMA member, that they presented to me in 1992, and being asked to donate my time to play CMA Fest, I would hope I’ve earned the opportunity to walk the red carpet alongside my wife, as we’ve done before.

I’m blessed to still be out on tour every year, performing for the greatest fans in the world and doing what I love.

I believe there should be room to recognize the artists who have spent their lives contributing to this organization’s success.

I love country music, but never in a million years would I think that a successful country music entertainer (and I’m not the only one) would not be able to walk the red carpet. It’s extremely hurtful, embarrassing and very disappointing. I guess the next time I attend the CMA’s, it will be in tribute after I’m gone, if I’m lucky.

God Bless,

Sam

Perhaps some might say this is all sour grapes. Clearly Sammy’s not still some big star, and there’s sure to be a logistical issue for how many people are allowed to walk the red carpet at the CMA Awards. And by the way, how silly is walking the red carpet anyway?

But this really speaks to the strange exclusivity the CMAs continue to be governed by, where only a select few performers are allowed in the inner circle to participate in what’s supposed to be country music’s “biggest night,” and a unifying event. It brings back memories of Sturgill Simpson busking outside of the CMAs in 2017, or how the Country Music Hall of Fame ceremony (also operated by the CMA) doesn’t allow the public to participate at all.

When Sturgill Simpson busked outside the CMAs, he did so with his Grammy for Best Country Album in tow. The CMAs have a dozen categories, with some 30+ nominees. The Grammy Awards hove over 100 categories, and nearly 500 nominees, all of whom get the opportunity to walk the red carpet, along with dignitaries, producers, music legends, etc. There are multiple red carpets, and multiple lanes for everyone to get their opportunity.

It’s not about allowing Sammy Kershaw to walk the red carpet specifically. It’s about standing on the principle that performers who reach a certain age shouldn’t get shoved aside in the mainstream. This is country music, and we respect our legends, honor them while they’re living, and don’t abandon them as they age. Conversely, we lift them up even higher. Because if it wasn’t for them carrying forward the music, country would not be where it is today—which incidentally, is perhaps more popular than it ever has been before.

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