Country music veteran Sammy Kershaw said Nov. 10 he has accepted a “sincere, heartfelt apology” from CMA leadership after he was initially denied red carpet access at the 2026 CMA Awards. In a statement on the Sammy Kershaw CMA Awards red carpet situation, he said the CMA has invited him and his wife, Mendy, to walk the red carpet and attend this year’s awards.
The update follows his comments last week on social media. “When I first shared my disappointment about being denied the opportunity to walk the red carpet at this year’s CMA Awards, I wasn’t trying to start a controversy or looking for attention. I simply spoke from my heart because I was hurt.”
A Heartfelt Apology and a Red Carpet Invitation
Kershaw said that over the past several days, “we have been in talks with CMA leadership in hopes of finding a positive resolution.” He added, “While I was disappointed with the time it took for the CMA to publicly respond, and felt their statement fell short of addressing the heart of the issue, I also believe in giving people the opportunity to make things right.”
“I’m pleased to share that we’ve since had a sincere and meaningful private conversation with CMA leadership. They have acknowledged how this situation was handled and extended a sincere, heartfelt apology, which I have personally accepted.”
“The CMA has also extended an invitation for my wife, Mendy, and me to walk the red carpet and attend this year’s awards alongside our fellow artists. I am grateful for that invitation and appreciate their willingness to listen, acknowledge our concerns, and work toward a positive outcome.”
“This Was Never About the Red Carpet”
Kershaw said the response from fans, fellow artists, friends and the country music community made it clear the moment was about more than one person’s invitation.
“This was never about the red carpet. It was about recognizing and respecting those who dedicated their lives to this music and preserving the history and legacy that makes country music so special.”
“You cannot celebrate 60 years of country music without celebrating the artists who helped build those 60 years.”
His hope, he said, is that the conversations begun with the CMA will lead to lasting change and even greater recognition of the industry’s legacy artists. “Because the spotlight may move on, the charts may change, and the years may pass. But the people who built country music should never be forgotten.”
Read Sammy Kershaw’s Full Statement
“First, I want to sincerely say THANK YOU to the thousands of fans, fellow artists, friends, and people throughout the country music community who have spoken up over the past several days. I am truly humbled beyond words. The outpouring of love and support has been overwhelming, and touched my heart in ways I will never forget.
When I first shared my disappointment about being denied the opportunity to walk the red carpet at this year’s CMA Awards, I wasn’t trying to start a controversy or looking for attention. I simply spoke from my heart because I was hurt. I never imagined the response would reach so many people across America and around the world.
But, something happened that I never expected. As this story continued to unfold, it became clear from many thousands of people that this wasn’t just about me. It was for those who came before me, the men and women who gave us their hearts, their voices, their lives to country music. The ones who rode those highways long before there were tour buses. The ones who played the honky-tonks and sacrificed time away from their families. This is about something much bigger than me or any one artist. Those artists didn’t just give country music its sound. They gave it its soul.
This was never about the red carpet. It was about recognizing and respecting those who dedicated their lives to this music and preserving the history and legacy that makes country music so special.
Over the past several days, we have been in talks with CMA leadership in hopes of finding a positive resolution.
While I was disappointed with the time it took for the CMA to publicly respond, and felt their statement fell short of addressing the heart of the issue, I also believe in giving people the opportunity to make things right.
I’m pleased to share that we’ve since had a sincere and meaningful private conversation with CMA leadership. They have acknowledged how this situation was handled and extended a sincere, heartfelt apology, which I have personally accepted.
The CMA has also extended an invitation for my wife, Mendy, and me to walk the red carpet and attend this year’s awards alongside our fellow artists. I am grateful for that invitation and appreciate their willingness to listen, acknowledge our concerns, and work toward a positive outcome.
But, perhaps the most important thing to come from all of this is the conversation we’ve started about the importance of recognizing the generations of artists who helped make country music what it is today, whether their name is still in the headlines or their songs are simply living on in the hearts of the people who grew up listening to them.
You cannot celebrate 60 years of country music without celebrating the artists who helped build those 60 years.
Country music has always been about honoring where we’ve come from while embracing where we’re going. I have nothing but respect for the incredible talent carrying country music into the future. Every generation of artists deserves its moment to shine, and I believe there’s room to celebrate all of them.
My sincere hope is that the conversations we’ve begun with the CMA will lead to lasting change and an even greater appreciation and recognition of our industry’s legacy artists for many years to come.
Because the spotlight may move on, the charts may change, and the years may pass. But the people who built country music should never be forgotten.
To every fan who stood up and made their voices heard, every artist who spoke up, and supported not only me but the many artists who have dedicated their lives to this music, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You were heard, and you reminded me that country music is still more than an industry. It’s a family. God bless you all.”
—Sammy Kershaw
About Sammy Kershaw
With a career spanning more than five decades, GRAMMY®-nominated Sammy Kershaw is one of country music’s most recognizable traditional voices. He is known for enduring hits including “She Don’t Know She’s Beautiful,” “Queen of My Double Wide Trailer,” “Third Rate Romance,” “Cadillac Style,” and “Love of My Life.” Kershaw has sold millions of records, earned numerous Billboard chart appearances, and built a lasting career as a recording and touring artist.
A former CMA Horizon Award nominee and lifetime member of the Country Music Association, Kershaw continues to perform for audiences across the country, bringing his distinctive voice and traditional country sound to generations of fans. For more information, visit sammykershaw.com.
